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11.4   IJ^ 


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23  WIST  MAIN  STMiT 

WltSTm,N.Y.  MSM 

(716)S72-4S03 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVi/ICiVIH 
Collection  de 

■  mm       m 

mi 


Canadian  Inttituta.  for  Historical  IMicroraproductions  /  Inttitut  Canadian  da  micrbraproductions  hiatoriquas 


Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notea  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Th«  ( 
toth 


Tlia  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


□    Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I — I    Covara  damagad/ 


D 


D 
D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Couvartura  andommagte 


Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raatauria  at/ou  palliculAa 


I — I   Covar  titia  miaaing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  mapa/ 

Cartaa  gtegraphiquaa  wx  coulaur 

Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


I — I   Colourad  plataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 


Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  an  coulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Rail*  avac  d'autraa  documenta 


Tight  binding  may  cauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  re  liura  sarrie  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatortion  la  long  da  la  marga  intiriaura 

Blank  laavaa  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poaaibla.  thaaa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  aa  paut  qua  cartainaa  pagaa  blanchaa  ajouttaa 
lora  d'una  raatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  taxta, 
maia.  loraqua  cala  Atait  poaaibla,  caa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  *t6  filmtea. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairaa  supplAmantairaa: 


L'Inatitut  a  microf  llmi  la  maillaur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  At*  poaaibla  da  aa  procurer.  Laa  details 
da  cat  axamplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atra  uniquaa  du 
point  da  vua  bibiiographiqua,  qui  pauvant  modifier 
una  image  reproduita,  ou  qui  pauvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mAthode  normale  de  filmage 
aont  indiqute  ci-daaaoua. 


:>   r~n   Coloured  pagaa/ 


Pagaa  de  coulaur 

Pagaa  damagad/ 
Pagaa  endommagAea 

Pagaa  raatorad  and/oi 

Pagaa  reataurAaa  at/ou  palliculAes 

Pagaa  diacoloured,  atainad  or  foxei 
Pagaa  dAcolorAaa,  tachaties  ou  piquAes 


I     I   Pagaa  damagad/ 

I — I   Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  laminated/ 

r~~L^Page8  diacoloured,  atainad  or  foxed/ 


Thai 
poaai 
ofth 
filmii 


Origi 
bagii 
thah 
aion, 
othai 

fifM 

aion, 
or  ill 


□   Pagaa  detached/ 
Pagaa  dAtachAes 

r^^Showthrough/ 
I — I   Tranaparanca 

I      I   Quality  of  print  variea/ 


D 
D 


Quality  inAgala  da  I'impresaion 

Includea  aupplamantary  matarial/ 
Comprend  du  mat6riel  aupplimentaire 


The  I 
ahall 
TINl 
whic 

Mapi 
diffa 
•ntir 
bagii 
right 
raqu 
matt 


Only  adition  availabia/ 
Saula  Edition  diaponibia 

Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Lea  pagaa  totalement  ou  partieiiement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure. 
etc..  ont  M  filmies  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  A 
obtanir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  itam  la  filmad  at  the  reduction  ratio  chackad  balow/ 


Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-daaaous 
10X                            14X                            18X                           22X 

26X 

aox 

• 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

r 

32X 

:ail8 
du 
bdifier 
une 
nage 


Th«  copy  film«d  h«r«  hat  bean  raproduead  thanka 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

Brock  University 
St.  CathariiMs 

Tha  imagaa  appearing  hare  are  the  beat  quality 
poaaibla  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  In  keeping  with  the 
filming  coritraet  apeeifioationa. 


L'axampiaira  flimA  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
ginAroalt*  de: 

Broek  Univanity 
8t  Catharinas 

Lea  imegea  suivantaa  ont  it*  raproduitea  avac  la 
plua  grand  aoin.  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  le  nettet*  de  rexemplaire  film*,  at  an 
conformity  avac  lea  eonditiona  du  contrat  da 
fllmage. 


Original  coi>iea  In  printed  peper  eovera  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  laat  pa je  with  a  printed  or  iiluatratad  Imprea- 
aton,  or  tha  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  coplea  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
firat  page  with  a  printed  or  Iiluatratad  Imprea- 
aion.  and  ending  on  the  laat  page  with  a  printed   : 
or  iiluatratad  impreaaion. 


Im  eKomplalrea  orlglnaux  dont  la  couvarture  en 
pepler  eat  imprlmAa  aont  flimAa  an  commanrant 
par  le  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  toit  par  la 
darnlAre  page  qui  eomporta  une  empreinte 
d'impreaaion  ou  d'iiluatration.  tolt  par  le  aecond 
plat,  talon  le  caa.  Toua  lea  autrea  axemplairaa 
origlneux  tont  fllmAa  an  commandant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comp^irte  une  empreinte 
d'impreaaion  ou  d'iiluatration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  darni*re  pege  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  laat  recorded  frame  on  eech  microfiche 
•liell  contain  the  aymbol  ^-^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  aymbol  ▼  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  appliea. 


Un  dea  aymbolaa  tuivanta  apparaftra  aur  la 
darnlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  aelon  le 
caa:  la  symbole  -^  aignifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
aymbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Mapa,  piatea,  charta,  etc..  may  be  filmed  et 
different  reduction  ratioa.  Thoaa  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  expoaura  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framea  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrama  iiiuatrata  the 
method: 


Lea  cartea,  planchea,  tablaeux,  etc.,  pauvent  itra 
filmAa  A  dea  taux  da  rMuction  dlff*ranta. 
Loraque  le  document  eat  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  an  un  aaui  clichA.  il  eat  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  aupArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  k  droite, 
et  de  haut  an  isaa,  an  pranant  la  nombre 
d'imagea  nAcaaaaira.  Lea  diagrammea  auivanta 
illuatrant  la  mAthode. 


rrata 
:o 


pelure, 
1  A 


32X 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

■■\t:. 


>K 


i^'- 


■;^: 


■•«*,  ^ 


.■■^ 


H 


''^;  .     > 


GUIDE 


to 


NIAGARA  FALLS 


i  ( 


▲n»  ITS 


SCENERY, 


nroLVDnro 


ALL  THE  POIKTS  OF  DTTEBIST,  BOTH  ON  THl 
AHESKM  AND  CANASIM  SIDE. 


^SKOLOar  AND  BBCESStON  OF  TH5  FALLS, 
B7  SIB  CHABiLES  LTELL. 

KUBBtilJSHED  WITH  VIBWS  0?  THS  f  iL£I3  AND  SUfmBK KON 

BBIDai^  FROM  BTSRBOSOOPIO  VIBWS  B8PB0IAU.T 

lOB  THIS  WORK. 


By  F.  H.  JOHNSON, 

eifiL  BNoiHBn,  A  xaasan  or  paoaka,  aitd  autbob  or  mapi^ 
CTATunnoB,  AHD  ttviDi-fiooKs  or  nn  rjlu. 


PmLADELPHU: 

aEOBGE   W.  CHILD  S. 

1864. 


JBntered,  according  to  Act  of  GoogreBS,  in  the  year  1863,  by 

F.  H.  JOHNSON, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Easttin  District  of  PennsylTania. 


'  /■ 


iraaBOTTPED  BT  L.  JOHHSOK  ft  OOw 
PHILAnKbPBIA. 

nniTBD  BT  BBKRT  B.  ASHlOABu 
MM.  1102*  110*4 


TO  THE  VISITOR. 


This  is  the  only  original,  oorreot,  and  reliable  work 
in  market.  The  author  for  several  years  has  been 
personally  and  familiarly  acquainted  with  all  the 
points  of  interest  of  this  <' world's  wonder/'  and 
great  pains  have  been  taken  to  make  this  work  in 
every  respect  correct,  and  worthy  the  attention  of 
the  tourist.  The  different  routes  and  places  are  so 
arranged  and  minutely  described  that  the  stranger 
cannot  be  misled  or  hesitate.  These  pages  are  given 
to  the  public  with  the  belief  that  something  of  the 
kind  is  needed,  inasmuch  as  works  written  by  casual 
observers  are  either  unnecessarily  prolix  upon  some 
points,  or  not  sufficiently  clear  and  explicit  upon 
others  to  meet  the  wishes  of  the  travelling  public. 
This  difficulty,  it  is  believed,  is  entirely  obviated  in 
the  following  pages. 

Follow  the  directions  of  this  little  work,  and  you 

can  go  to  all  the  points  of  interest  on  both  sides  of 

the  river. 

The  Author. 


CONTENTS. 


VAM 

Amfldoui  TalL— Near«8t  ]Umt«  to. 7 

ATarj  oa  the  Log » 81 

A  Tidt  to  Goat  liland  by  Moonlight........^ 38 

Bftthing-Place  of  Francis  Abbot,  the  Hermit 10 

Benders  Cave 47 

BIddle  Stain 14 

Bnmhig  Spring. it 

Boming  of  the  Steamer  Caroline 42 

Oaaada.>-nNeareit  Roate  to  Table  Bock  and  other  Points.................  86 

Casualties 29 

CatUn's  Care. .....47 

Care  of  the  Winds 12 

Ohapin  Island 10 

Chippewa. 41 

Clifton  House 87 

Depth  of  Rirer  below  the  Falls 27 

Depth  of  Water  on  the  Top  of  Horse  Shoe  Falls 17 

DotU's  Hole 48 

vail  of  the  River 2S 

First  Impressions  of  Strangers 26 

Fort  ScUosser 44 

Geology  and  Recession  of  the  Falls ft2 

Goat  Isiand,—the  Route  to .„..'. 8^  10^  22 

'  Head  of  Goat  Island ; „.  '^.(^ 

Health  of  the  Ticinity  of  the  Falls .Vi 

Horse  Shoe  Fall 16 

Horse  Shoe  Tower 15 

Hotels I 86 

Indian  Offering  to  the  Falls 45 

Indian  Tradition 28 

Indian  Village. 34 

Iron  Bridge. 8 

Landing  on  the  Canada  Side....... »..  97 

Local  Distances  connected  with  Goat  Island 23 

**       M         about  the  Falls,  American  Side 84 

«       «         Canada  Side .. 42 

I«na  Island 11 

Lunar  Bow 88 

Lnndy'sLaneBattle-Field 41 


It  r 


6 


»mM  of  tlMlflftf*  f9iac^teo«|ik  «lM Whlrlpoo|U....„..^  ..H..«.»^..  M 
Maattoi  Book..............t....M.»..»'»«t .....^......m...m....jm«..  11 


NtMCMt  Konto  to  tb«  fclto 
Ifiatva 


><».'4;. 


? .  .<■/ 


PoctrT.p— A  Babteth  at  I^iafua...... ^....*.'.„.....».  fll 

'«      To  Niagarft. ........«»»  « 

Point  View .................»...;.............. ........m.....,..»...  M 

Qwuitlty  of  WatWt »•••••••■••<•••••••••••••••• •••««i»«*r«n«M«<{^«>**w  U 

Rainbowi »..»»,.«•»...••..••.•. • wmm.......^........  M 

Blaeof  theiUfitr u.,...^.^.*. ..». m.........,***..,.  96 


•#•••••••••••«•«••«••••• 


Bun  Patch's  Leap;..... „ 

Spray...... .w.....;., 

Soqmulon  Bridga » w».. ....»«»..*.*>.. 


18 
81 


Table  Rook^Iti  FaU 

The  CoDtraTall ,. 

The  fallfoannot  be  deieribed t.M....i«M...  m 

The  Pint  Man  who  law  the  Palla ........;...U....  38 . 

XDO  -UOrSO  SJIOO    JrRUe«»«*a**«ff««*»««*««**««»»««*«**«e«t*e«eeeeee««*eee»#Aeeiee*aa«b«*a«e  'X^ 

The  Line  between  the  two  OoTemmenta. ....,m..»*.....  4m. 

The  Lunar  Bow ...i»t,.V..;>..i;  ||k 

The  Nearest  Route  to  Canada,  Table  Rock,  Btimlng  ^ffiM,  ViA  ^^ 

Lundy'sLane ..'..j|^i,;1,.m.  qJK;^ 

The  Mmettnti.. i'^......... .'...•iMfM.w...  W 

The  Route  to  Ooatlahmd i.;...>....;. jp.....^.W«-  B 

The  Route  to  OuMda  tla  SuBpeneion  Bridge...^....*,.... ...m..^.^/.  88  '• 

The  T6lldate    toQbat  Island :«^.M»..t...M..v**'f ^r-    ^  %  . 

Th^  'WQinpoiNo....... '«(..••.'.•....... .i>..«iiiiy.a...Vf  ' 

Three  Nsun—Iilands ...i.... ...:....».....  18 

View  of  the  Idlf  at;  Mlght-Sunrise-Sunset f. .....^........jiM,  28  •- 

Whirlpool ..> tf  k> 

WintwBcene»....;........>v»»*?« »•• iff  I 

BliutMllenst 
View <tf  the PaUslIram'tibieAinerioaoi  Side. ...........»../. 6t 


M 


■  "oat  isiaiMi........ ....«.«..«'.««■...■««««.««.«»<*.... .♦.'*.rt'  jw  < 


a 

**       '*    thahiM-(tfCkMt.l8land. tW^»<>w.«......^.  86 

Saqiendon  Bridge „.|^........»......« .^....'cl^AMi :....... -88 


!  ,;'? 


AdTorti4B]ii0Bti« 


4ti^ 


••••taM      T 

»*«*««ip  WW 

>«••••••  wl 

........  M 

18 

M 

sr 

98 

le 

8; 


..47 
.87 


..    6 
;.  26 

•  n...  '88 


> 

> 

[-, 

r  -' 


■iV' 


yt 


m^. 


*ji«'#'» 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


Ir  the  Tidtor  stops  at  the  Caiarwt  Homey  or  Jii- 
temaHonal,  and  wishes  to  take  the  nearest  route  to 
the  Falls;  pass  down  Falls  Street'*'  to  the  Ferrj- 
lE^ouse,  go  through  tke  Ferry-Hoose,  and  you  will 
haye  a  fine  view  of  the  Amerioan  Fall.  Height^ 
164  feet;  width  to  Goat  Island,  opposite,  900  feet. 
The  distance  from  your  hotel  to  the  Ferry-House  is 
ahout  a  third  of  a  mile,  or  say  ten  or  twelve  min- 
utes' walk.  The  view  from  this  point  is  grand  and 
imposing.  The  Amerioan  and  Horse  Shoe  Falls, 
Goat  Island  with  its  stately  oaks  and  dark  waving 
forest,  the  opposite  iron-bound  shore,  the  river  be- 
low, with  the  ferry-boats  dancing  like  things  of  life 
upon  the  agitated  waters, — all  render  it  a  place  of 
much  attractiveness. 

If  you  wish  to  pass  fVom  this  place  to  Goat  Island, 
proceed  up  the  bank  a  short  distance  till  you  come 

*  FalU  .^itreef  rum  0a$t  and  toett.     The  north  tide  of  the  in- 

tomolioiMili*  on  ihie  etreet*    The  railroad  depot  uid  AmerioM 

Hotel  are  on  thiB  street 

1 


8 


GUn>I  TO  NIAQAEA  FALLS. 


il 


I 


to  the  Iron  Bridge  leading  over  the  Bapids ;  crosB 
oyer  the  bridge,  and  keep  to  the  right 

« 

The  Boate  to  Goat  Island. 
From  Goat  or  IrU  Island  are  obtuned  the  best 
and  most  striking  yiews  of  the  Falls.  If  you  are 
at  the  Cataract  House^  or  Internationaly  pass  west- 
wardlj  down  Bridge  Street,^  and  two  or  three  min- 
utes- walk  will  bring  you  to  the 

Lmhi  BridgOf 

leading  to  the  toll-gate,  o%  Bath  Island.  The 
bridge  is  about  fifty  rods  above  the  Falls,  and  is  an 
object  of  interest.  The  inquiry  is  not  unfrequently 
made,  How  was  it  ever  constructed  over  such  a  tre- 
mendous rapid  ?  The  first  bridge  was  thrown  across 
this  angry  stream  in  1817,  near  the  grist-mill,  above 
the  present  bridge,  with  much  hazard  of  life  and 
great  expense.  It  was  carried  away  by  the  ice 
the  ensuing  spring.  In  1818,  another  was  con- 
structed, where  Bath  Island  Bridge  now  stands,  by 
the  Messrs.  Porter  brothers,  the  proprietors  of  the 
island. 

A  suitable  pier  was  built  at  the  water's  edge ;  long 
timbers  were  projected  over  this  abutment  the  dis- 
tance they  wished  to  sink  the  next  pier,  loaded  on 

<  *  Bridge  Stireet  is  4ik«  only  street  between  the  Internationa] 
and  Gataraot  Hotels. 


\ 


\ 


OUIDB  TO  NIAOABA  FALLS. 


9 


the  end  next  to  the  shore  with  stone,  to  prevent 
moving;  legs  were  framed  through  the  ends  of  the 
projecting  timbers,  resting  upon  the  rocky  bottom, 
thus  forming  temporary  piers  until  more  substan- 
tial ones  could  be  built. 

Bapida. 

The  next  thing  that  attracts  the  attention  of  the 
visitor,  as  he  passes  on  his  route  to  Goat  Island,  is 
the  Rapids.  These  are  grand  and  impressive ;  thou- 
sands, in  the  summer  season,  particularly  when  the 
sky  is  clear,  stand  upon  this  bridge,  and  gaze  upon 
the  angry  flood  as  it  rushes  past  them  in  all  its 
wild  and  tumultuous  fury,  filling  the  mind  with 
emotions  of  awe  and  indescribable  grandeur.  Let 
the  visitor  look  up  the  Eapids  as  far  as  the  eye 
can  extend;  the  river  appears  very  much  like  the 
ocean  dashing  upon  the  beach  after  a  gale. 

From  the  head  of  Goat  Island  to  the  grand 
cataract,  a  distance  of  three-quarters  of  a  mile, 
the  river  falls  fifty-one  feet.  It  increases  in 
velocity  from  seven  to  thirty  miles  per  hour,  be- 
fore it  makes  the  final  plunge. 


The  Toll-Oate 

stands  on  Bath  Island,  itere  you  pay  twenty- 
five  cents  (carriages  free),  and  if  you  register 
your  name  you  will  have  the  privilege  of  passing 


io 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


ftnd  repassing  any  time  daring  the  current  year. 
The  small  islands  to  the  left,  above  the  toll-gate, 
are  ca)Ied  Ship  and  Brig  Islands.  Formerly  a 
bridge  extended  to  the  larger  one  of  these;  and  it 
was  then  called  Loyer's  Retreat.  The  large  build 
ing  to  the  right  is  a  paper-mill,  in  which  is  manu- 
factured the  paper  of  the  New  York  Weekly  and 
Tri- Weekly  Tribune. 

Ohapiii  Uaadi 

This  island  is  to  the  right  of  and  helow  the  brlige, 
within  a  few  rods  of  the  American  Fall.  A  man 
by  the  name  of  Chapin,  while  working  on  the  bridge, 
was  thrown  into  the  stream,  a.^d  carried  by  the  cur- 
rent on  to  this  island.  Mr.  Joel  B.  Robinson  res- 
cued him  with  a  skiff.  Hundreds  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen  witnessed  this  bold  and  daring  adven- 
ture, which  few,  at  so  much  hazard  of  life,  would 
have  had  the  nerve  to  attempt. 

Goat  Iilaiid. 

The  next  point  of  interest,  after  passing  a  small 
bridge,  is  Iris  or  Goat  Island.  A  good  carriage- 
road  leads  around  the  island ;  distance,  one  mile  and 
a  quarter.  Here  are  three  ways :  the  left  leads  to 
the  head  of  Goat  Island,  the  middle  one  across  the 
Island  to  the  Rapids,  about  sixty  rods  above  the 


tl 
tl 


QUIDS  TO  NIAGARA   FALLS. 


11 


\  year. 
U-gate, 
lerly  a 
and  it 
B  build 
)  manu- 
Itly  and 


Horse  Shoe  Fall.  But  most  of  the  yisitors  do,  and 
we  will,  if  you  please,  take  to  the  right,  from  the 
fact  that  we  get  the  less  impressive  view  of  the  Falls 
at  first,  and  the  more  grand  and  imposing  last,  which, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  author,  gives  the  mind  more 
time  to  appreciate  the  magnificent  grandeur  and 
awful  sublimity  of  these  mighty  works.  Eighty 
rods  brings  us  to  the  foot  or  north  side  of  the  island. 
The  small  sheet  of  water  nearest  you  is 


B  bridge, 
A  man 
le  bridge, 
r  the  cur- 
nson  res- 
tdies  and 
ig  adven- 
fe,  would 


Kg  a  small 
carris^- 
,  mile  and 
Ift  leads  to 
lacToas  the 
labove  the 


The  Oentre  FalL 

which  is  between  Goat  and  Luna  Island, — a  nar- 
row and  beauti^  fall  of  water.  A  bridge  passes 
over  this  to  Luna  Island.  Underneath  the  centre 
fall  is  the  Gave  of  the  Winds. 

Lnxut  T|i1ff"^ 

is  a  favorite  spot.  It  is  a  small  island,  containing 
about  three-fourths  of  an  acre,  to  the  right  and  on 
the  east  side  of  Goat  Island,  reached  by  a  foot-bridge. 
It  is  called  Luna  Island,  not  because  it  resembles 
the  moon,  but  from  the  circumstance  of  a  lunar 
how  being  seen  from  this  place  more  advantageously 
than  from  any  other  point.  If  the  visitor's  nerves 
are  pretty  steady,  he  can  stand  within  one  foot  of 
the.  Falls,  and  see  the  angry  stream  dashing  in  all 
its  fury  upon  the  rocks  below,  impatient  to  try  its 
power  in  making  this  fearful  leap.     The  sheet  of 


12 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


I;     1 


Wftter  to  tlie  right  is  the  American  Fall ;  that  to  the 
left,  the  Centre  Fall. 

It  has  often  been  remarked  by  strangers  tlM  this 
island  trembles, — which  is  undoubtedly  true ;  but 
the  impression  is  somewhat  heightened  by  a  nerv- 
ous temperament. 

It  was  at  a  point,  after  we  pass  the  small  foot-bridge, 
about  twenty-five  feet  above  the  Falls,  that  young 
Miss  Antoinette  De  Forest,  of  Buffalo,  aged  eight 
years,  by  some  unaccountable  casualty  fell  into  the 
river,  and  Charles  Addington,  aged  twenty-two, 
jumped  in  to  save  her,  and  they  both  went  over  the 
Falls  together,  June  21,  1849. 

The  body  of  the  girl  was  found,  much  mutilated, 
the  next  day,  and  that  of  the  young  man  floated 
four  or  five  days  afterward,  when  it  was  recovered. 
This  was  one  of  the  most  afflictive  scenes  that  has 
occurred  within  our  recollection. 

Return  by  the  same  way  to  Goat  Island.  After 
resting  a  few  moments,  pass  up  the  river  to  a  sign 
on  a  tree, — "  Biddle  Stairs,"  which  lead  to  the 


Oave  of  the  Winds. 

This  cave  is  between  Goat  and  Luna  Island,  under 
the  Centre  Fall,  and  is  reached  via  the  Biddle 
Stairs.  It  is  seen  to  the  best  advantage  from 
below.  If  the  wind  is  blowing  down  the  river,  or 
from  the  American  shore,  you  can  stan4  with  per- 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


15 


totlie 


iat  this 
3;  but 
a  nerv- 


bridge, 
young 
d  eight 
into  the 
ity-twD, 
jyer  the 

iitilated, 
floated 
Bovered. 
that  has 


feot  safety  upon  a  large,  flat  rock,  wUhin  a  few  feet 
of  the  falling  sheet,  without  inconvenience,  or  get* 
ting  the  least  wet.  In  the  afternoon,  when  the  sun 
shines,  there  is  always  a  splendid  rainbow,  between 
the  sheet  of  water  and  the  rock,  within  a  few  feet 
of  you ;  and  this  is  the  only  place  on  the  globe,  as 
far  as  the  author  can  learn  from  history  and  from 
travelers,  where  a  rainbow  forming  an  entire  circle 
can  be  seen.  Two,  and  sometimes  three,  have  been 
seen  at  once. 

Width  of  the  cave  is  one  hundred  feet;  diameter, 
sixty;  height,  one  hundred. 

It  is  much  visited  both  by  ladies  and  gentlemen. 
The  scenery  is  veiy  fine. 

The  charge  for  going  into  the  cave  is  one  dollar; 
which  includes  the  .use  of  a  suitable  dress  and  the 
services  of  a  reliable  guide. 


After 
,0  a  sign 
the 


d,  under 
BiddU 
ge  from 
river,  or 
rith  per- 


Sam  Fatdh'a  Leap 

is  on  the  west  side  of  Goat  Island,  near  the  Biddle 
Stairs.  This  celebrated  person  made  two  successful 
leaps  in  the  year  1829,  ninety-seven  feet  perpendicu- 
lar, into  the  river  below.  Question  by  the  visitor: 
How  was  this  done  ?  A  ladder  was  raised,  the  bottom 
resting  on  the  edge  of  the  river,  the  top  of  the 
ladder  inclining  over  the  water,  stayed  by  ropes 
to  the  trees  m  the  bank,  on  the  top.  of  which  was  a 
small  platform.    He  stood  gazing  upon  the  multitude 

, ,...-„  -  .-...a-.. 


14 


QUIDS  TO  NIAOABA  FALLS. 


I 

i 


1 


I 


k 


''■i     '■ 


who  had  heen  attracted  to  the  place  by  a  man — afl 
it  was  said — "  going  to  jump  over  the  Falls."  "  One 
thing/'  said  he,  '^  can  be  done  as  well  as  another/' 
bowed  to  the  audience^  stepped  ofif  the  platform,  and 
went  down  feet  foremost.  Q.  How  deep  is  the  river 
where  he  went  in  ?  A.  About  fifty  feet.  Q.  How 
deep  did  he  go  down  ?  A.  It  is  difficult  to  answer 
this  question  correctly: — probably  not  more  than 
fifteen  or  twenty  feet.  Q.  How  long  did  he  remain 
under  water?  A.  Some  said  he  was  gone  for  good; 
others  affirmed  it  was  five  minutes;  but  a  gentleman 
holding  his  watch  informed  us  it  was  just  half  a 
minute  before  he  rose.  Q.  What  became  of  the 
fool-hardy  fellow?  A.  He  made  a  jump  at  Bochea- 
ter,  Genesee  Falls^  the  same  year^  which  was  his 
last.  His  body  was  never  fbui^d. 
,f 

Biddle  Stain 

are  on  the  northwest  side  of  Goat  Island:  they 
were  erected  by  Nicholas  Biddle,  President  of  the 
United  States  Bank.  '<  Make  us  something,''  said 
he  to  the  workmen, ''  to  descend  and  see  what  is 
below."  These  stairs  are  spiral,  firmly  secured  by 
heavy  iron  bolts  fa^^ened  into  the  solid  rock,  and 
are,  we  believe,  perfectly  safe.  Total  number  of 
steps,  ninety. 

At  the  foot  are  two  paths  leading  in  opposite  di- 
rections: the  one  up  the  river  leads  toward  the 


\ 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


16 


Horse  Shoe  Fall,  but  tlie  path  is  so  much  obstructed 
by  rocks  which  have  fallen^  and  the  bank  is  so  steep, 
that  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  get  within  thirty  rods 
of  the  Horse  Shoe  Fall.  But  by  passing  down 
the  river  a  short  distance  the  Centre  Fall,  or  Cave 
of  the  Winds,  bursts  upon  the  astonished  sight  in  all 
its  terrific  grandeur.  The  impending  rocks  some- 
times fill  the  visitor  with  alarm  lest  they  might  fall; 
but  they  seldom  fall  in  the  summer  season,  and  no 
accident  has  occurred  since  the  year  1829. 

On  returning,  proceed  up  the  river  about  sixty 
rods  to  a  small  house  built  by  the  proprietor  of  the 
island,  for  the  purpose  of  rest.  Descend  the  bank, 
and  cross  a  small  bridge  to  the  tower.  This  is 
called 


,1 


Hone  Shoe  Tower. 

This  tower  is  on  the  west  side  of  Goat  Island,, 
ilf'ithin  three  rods  of  the  Falls, — forty-five  feet  high,^ 
and  two  hundred  feet  above  the  river  below,  sur- 
rounded near  the  top  by  a  portico  and  an  iron  rail- 
ing. This  tower  has  been  called  by  some  Prospect 
Tower,  and  by  others  Terrapin  Tower,  but  is  gene- 
rally and  best  known  as  Horse  Shoe  Tower.  Visit- 
ors of  a  nervous  temperament,  and  especially  old 
people,  when  stepping  out  upon  this  piazza,  not  un- 
frequently  feel  a  kind  of  giddiness  or  tremor;  but 
on  looking  up  or  around  upon  the  green  foliage,  the 


16 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  TALLS. 


I 


I     :i' 


nerves  generally  beoome  tnmqvIL  We  are  tliea 
better  prepared  to  appreciate  tlie  pyerwhelming 
grandeur  of  this  magnificent  scene.  ITbe.viltw  from 
this  tower,  in  the  opinion  of  the  author,  of  thevWidth 
of  the  river,  the  Bapids,  the  Horse  Shoe  Fall,  and 
the  angry)  boiling  deep  below,  is  not  surpassed  by 
any  other. 

The  river  below,  in  its  wild,  tuasytuouB  fniy, 
produces  a  perfect  fbam. 

Tlie  Hone  Shoe  Fell. 

This  is  the  entire  circle  from  Goat  Island  to  the 
Canadian  side  of  the  river.  Its  width,  by  calculation, 
is  144  rods ;  perpendicular  height,  158  feet.  It  de- 
rived its  name  from  its  shape ;  but  it  Must  have  altered 
much  since  it  was  first  named,  as  large  masses  of  idoks 
in  the  neighborhoodof  the  Horse  Shoe  fall  every  year* 

This  is  sometimes  called  the  Canada  Fall,'-*-:which 
is  a  mistake:  the  Americans  owa one-half  of  it.  The 
line  between  the  two  Governments  runs  in  the 
centre  of  the  river,  through  the  pc^nt  of  the  Horse 
Shoe,  where  it  looks  so  green,  following  the  deepest 
channel,  and  through  the  centre  of  the  lakes. 


1^. 


Ott«atity  o' "Water,  ^         i. 

Professor  Lyell  says,  fifteen  hundred  milliona  of 

j  cubic  feet  pass  over  the  Falls  every  minute.    I^. 

Pwight,  former  President  of  Yale  College,  say^Vne 


1 1 


( 

k 


*•, 


V.f 


.;A 


V      .. 


^-i 

X 

GH 

1   t, 

-J 

►ll 

O 

- 

71 

L'7 

m 

iVl 

t—^ 

ri; 

w 

CD 

1 — 1 

£ 

m 

t-J 

p- 

■^ 

> 

r 


< 


diii>r 


TO  NIAGARA  FALLH. 


17 


Imndred  millions  two  bnndred  thousand  tons  put 
oyer  the  Falls  6Ter}[  hoar.  Jndge  De  Yeaniy  in  hir 
Traveler's  Own  ^k>oky  says,  five  thousand  eightj- 
foor  millions  eighty-nine  thonsand  eight  hundred 
fifty-three  barrels  descend  in  twenty-four  hours; 
two  hundred  eleven  millions  eight  hundred  thirty- 
six  thousand  eight  hundred  fifty-three  every  hour; 
three  millions  five  hundred  thirfy  thousand  six 
hundred  fourteen  every  minute;  fifty-eight  thousand 
three  hundred  forty-three  eveiy  second.  **  I  should 
think/'  says  one,  "that  the  river  would  exhaust 
itself.''  True,  Wlien  the  upper  lakes,  with  their  vast 
tributaries,  run  dry,  Niagara  will  be  no  more. 

Other  estimates,  by  scientific  gentlemen,  have  been 
made,  arriving  at  nearly  the  same  results. 

DvptE  of  Wat«r  ea  the  top  of  Bono  8hoo  FalL 

It  is  estimated,  by  Sir  Charles  Lyell  and  others,  to  be 
twenfy  feet  in  the  centre,  or  where  the  water  looks 
io  green.  There  is,  however,  a  better  datum  whence 
to  ascertain  this  ikct  than  all  the  calculations,  how- 
ever learned.  The  ship  Detroit,  being  condemned  on 
the  lake,  was  bought  by  a  company,  loaded  with  a 
live  bufialo,  bear,  deer,  fox,  and  other  animals,  and 
sent  over  the  Falls  in  the  year  1829.  She  was 
knocked  to  pieces  in  the  Rapids,  except  about  half  of 
her  hull,  which  was  filled  with  water.-  It  drew 
eighteen  feet,  and  passed  over  the  point  of  the 


18 


QUIDI  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


Hone  Shoe,  withoat  touobing.  Hundredf  saw 
her  make  this  fearful  plunge,  aud  I  haye  no  doubt 
that  the  estimates  are  correct.  '  This,  then,  gi?es  a 
solid  column  of  water  on  the  t6p  of  the  rock  of 
at  least  twenty  feet. 

The  visitor,  after  spending  what  time  he  wishes 
on  Horse  Shoe  Tower,  will  return  to  the  bank.  If 
he  wishes  to  reach  his  hotel  by  the  nearest  route, 
without  going  round  by  the  head  of  the  island,  he  ^ 
will  take  a  small  path  directly  back  of  the  building 
fronting  Horse  Shoe  Tower.  This  is  a  pleasant  walk 
leading  to  the  bridge,  and  shortens  the  distance 
more  than  one-half.  But  we  will  suppose  he  wishes 
to  continue  hi's  rambles  around  Goat  Island. 

The  best  point  from  which  to  get  a  correct  view 
of  the  shape  of  the  Horse  Shoe  Fall  is  about  forty 
rods  up  the  river,  from  the  point  where  he  ascends 
the  bank  from  the  tower^  near  a  small  stone  monu- 
ment, directly  in  his  path,  marked  with  a  cross  on 
the  top,  set  by  the  surveyors  to  ascertain  if  the  Falls 
recede.  Let  him  step  to  the  bank,  and  he  will  get ' 
one  of  the  best  views  of  the  shape  of  the  Horse  Shoe 
there  is,  on  either  side  of  the  river. 

Three  Siitenu 

These  islands  are  on  the  southwest  side,  and  near 
the  head  of  Goat  Island.  In  the  year  1841  a 
man  by  the  name  of  A.  P.  Alien,  in  attempting  to 


y^ 


OUIDB  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


19 


a 


oron  the  river  in  a  skiff,  fVon  Chippewa,  unfortu- 
Dately  broke  one  of  hia  oars ;  btt(,  with  a  skill  and 
coolness  never  surpassed,  he  managed  to  reach  the 
outer  island,  and  jumped  ashore,  while  his  skiff  darted 
on  like  an  arrow  over  the  Falls.  Though  saved 
from  immediate  death,  yet  his  situation  was  perilous 
in  the  extreme :  the  hope  of  rescue  was  extremely 
doubtful,  and  starvation  was  staring  him  in  the  face. 
Two  nights  and  one  day  he  remained  upon  this 
lonely  spot.  He  struck  a  fire :  the  smoke  wreathed 
in  columns  above  the  tree-tops.  Great  numbers  of 
our  citiaens  assembled,  and  heard  his  cries  for  help. 
At  length  a  rope  was  thrown  across  from  one  island 
to  the  other,  and  by  means  of  a  skiff  the  same  in- 
trepid Robinson  who  had  rescued  Chapin  succeeded 
in  bringing  him  safe  to  shore. 

Bftthing-PUoe  of  Fraadi  Abbot,  the  Hermit. 

The  bathing-place  of  Francis  Abbot  is  on  the 
west  side  of  Goat  Island,  the  first  perpendicular  cas- 
cade after  leaving  Horse  Shoe  Tower,  near  the  three 
islands  called  the  Three  Sisters.  He  was  learned, 
gentlemanly,  and  accomplished,  pleasing  in  address, 
but  could  not  be  approached  by  a  stranger.  He 
lived  nearly  twenty  months  entirely  alone.  He  was 
drowned  below  the  ferry,  in  the  year  1831.  His 
body  was  found  at  Fort  Niagara,  fourteen  miles 
below,  recognized,  brought  back;  and  sleeps  in  our 


20 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


"^^Ik: 


biuying-grottiid.     This  loneiy  spot  was  resorted  to 
by  this  singular  indiyidual  generally  at  night.     The 
thunder's  terrific  sound,  the  lightning's  blaze,  min-  ' 
gled  with  the  roar  of  the  cataract,  was  the  element  , 
in  which  he  delighted  to  breathe.     Very  little  is   ^ 
known  of  his  history. 


iaatti#«*4?.«4': 


;'  f-i-i^.   : 


Head  of  Goat  Islaiid. 


At  this  point,  Navy  Island,  near  the  Canada  shore, 
to  the  right,  containing  three  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  the  scene  of  the  McEeuzie  War  in  1837-38, 
is  in  plain  sight.  It  was  occupied  by  three  or  four 
hundred  Americans, — a  heterogeneous  mass  of  all 
classes,  without  discipline,  or  any  efficient  means  to 
carry  on  war.  Chippewa,  on  the  Canada  shore  but 
a  short  distance  below,  contained  at  the  time  four 
or  five  thousand  British  soldiers.  The  two  Govern- 
ments took  no  active  part  in  this  hot-headed  enter- 
prise, and  it  fell  by  its  own  weight.  Grand  Island 
is  to  the  left,  on  the  American  side,  resembling  the 
main  shore,  containing  seventeen  thousand  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  purchased  by  M.  M.  Noah, 
and,  according  to  his  fanciful  visions,  it  was  to  be  the 
future  home  of  all  the  Jews  on  the  globe.  The 
visitor,  in  turning  his  eye  to  the  right  and  left,  will 
readily  perceive  how  this  island  divides  the  river,  the 
greater  portion  rolling  to  the  Canada  shore,   v . 

It  would,  while  passing  the  bridge,  be  thought  in 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


21 


credible  that  any  person  could  have  reached  the 
island  before  a  bridge  was  built.  Yet  such  is  the  fact. 
As  early  as  1765,  several  French  officers  were  con- 
veyed to  it  by  Indians  in  canoes,  carefully  dropping 
down  the  river  between  the  dividing  waters  where 
the  river  for  some  little  distance  is  calm;  and  Peter 
B.  Porter,  of  Black  Bock,  with  some  other  gentle- 
men, also  made  a  trip  to  the  island  in  a  boat.  They 
found  but  little  trouble  in  descending,  but  their 
return  was  difficult  and  hazardous.* 

It  was  effected  by  shoving  the  boat  with  setting- 
poles  up  the  most  shallow  part  of  the  current  for 
half  a  mile,  before  making  for  the  shore.  Palling 
into  the  current  within  a  mile  of  the  Palls  must 
be  fatal.  Several  accidents  of  this  kind  have  hap- 
pened, and  the  unfortunate  persons,  as  far  as  the 
author  can  recollect,  were  hurried  on  to  destruc- 
tion. ,:■■-,-,..  :-,'.-.    ■ :' : 

It  is  but  a  few  years  since  an  Indian,  partially 
intoxicated,  on  attempting  to  cross  the  river  in  a 
canoe,  was  drawn  into  the  Bapids.  Pinding  all 
efforts  to  reach  the  shore  unavailing,  he  took  a  good 
horn  of  whiskey,  lay  down  in  his  canoe,  passed 
rapidly  over  the  Falls,  plunged  into  the  yawning 
vortex  below,  and  disappeared  forever.  At  this 
point,  the  head  of  Goat  Island,  where  we  are  now 


*  Trees  marked  1765  and  1769  were,  until  within  a  few 
years  past,  elearly  to  be  seen. 


r~ 


22 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  VALLS. 


standing)  it  can  be  more  satisfactorily  explained 
why  it  was  called  Goat  Island.  A  man  by  the  name 
of  Stedman,  about  seventy  years  since,  put  some 
goats  upon  the  island,  which  remained  there  nearly 
two  years.  He  reached  the  island  and  returned 
the  same  way  as  the  Indians  and  others  had  done. 

The  old  clearing  you  notice  at  the  left  is  part 
of  an  Indian  burying-ground,  but  of  the  tribe  to 
whom  it  belonged  nothing  definite  is  known.  It 
is  supposed  by  some  they  were  the  Iroquois. 

Iris  or  Goat  Island. 

Iris  or  Goat  Island  contains  sixty-nine  and  a  half 
acres,  is  a  fraction  over  a  mile  in  circumference, 
and  heavily  timbered.  Most  of  the  smooth-bark 
trees  are  marked  with  initials  bearing  different  dates. 
**In  1805,"  says  Judge  Porter,  "there  was  a  beech- 
tree  on  the  bank  near  the  Horse  Shoe  Fall,  marked 
1770, 1771,  and  1772."  The  names  of  these  early 
travelers  are  not  recollected. 

No  sportsman  is  allowed  to  carry  a  gun  on  this 
island,  as  it  would  endanger  the  lives  of  those  who 
are  promenading  through  it.  The  cottage  near 
the  bridge  is  the  only  dwelling  on  the  island.  The 
island  affords  a  wild  and  delightful  retreat :  in  the 
hottest  days  there  is  always  a  refreshing  and  in- 
vigorating breeze  from  the  river.  There  are  three 
bridges  connected  with  this  island,  and  one  tower. 


I 


I 


\ 


■■-'  A 


irly 


GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  FALLS.  28 

The  visitor  will  peroeive  that  there  is  an  excel- 
lent carriage-road  entirely  round  the  island,  and, 
if  he  chooses,  he  can  get  a  good  carriage  to  carry 
a  party  of  six  or  eight,  at  an  expense  of  one  dollar 
and  a  half  per  hour. 

:^i  Looal  DifltuioM. 

Local  distances  connected  with  Goat  Island  are 
as  follow : — 

From  the  Cataract  House  to  Goat  Island 75  rodf. 

From  the  International  to  Goat  Island 70  ** 

From  Goat  Island,  where  the  road  ascends  the  bank, 

to  the  foot 80  " 

From  foot  of  the  island  and  up  the  river  to  Biddle 

Stairs 15  « 

From  Biddle  Stairs  to  Horse  Shoe  Tower 65  '' 

From  Horse  Shoe  Tower  to  the  Three  Sisters .150  **  • 

Head  of  Goat  Island 65  " 

To  the  Bridge 85  " 

Circumference  of  Goat  Island , 376  " 

The  whole  distance  from  the  Cataract  House,  or  Interna- 
tional, around  the  island,  is  one  and  a  half  miles  and  a  frac- 
tion over. 


in- 
iree 


Spray. 

Spray,  like  the  smoke  of  a  bnrning  mountain, 
sometimes  rises,  forming  dark,  heavy  clouds,  tinged 
with  the  refulgent  rays  of  the  rising  and  setting 
sun,  which  have  been  seen,  says  Judge  Porter, 
more  than  one  hundred  miles.  ^  ,  ,^ 


24  GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  FALLS. 

Balnbowi. 

There  are  twu.  One  is  always  seen  in  the  day* 
time,  when  the  sun  shines ;  the  other  at  nighty — 
called  the  Lunar  Bow.  The  latter  is  only  heheld 
once  a  month,  when  the  moon  is  at  the  full  and 
sufficiently  high  in  the  heavens,  and  the  sky  clear. 
And  Niagara,  as  far  as  the  author  can  learn  from 
travelers  and  from  history,  is  the  only  place  on  the 
globe  where  a  rainbow  at  night  can  be  seen  with 
distinctness.  At  all  events,  the  lunar  bow  is  pecu- 
liar to  this  place. 

Tiew  of  tlie  FallB  at  NigH 

An  evening  view  has  a  very  different  effect  upon 
die  mind  of  the  beholder,  from  that  of  the  view 
in  the  daytime.  The  moonbeams  playing  upon 
the  agitated  waters;  the  spray,  like  the  smoke 
of  a  volcano,  rising  into  the  sky ;  the  endless  roar 
of  the  cataract,  mingled  with  the  heart's  deepest 
impressions,  give  such  an  indescribable  sublimity 
and  grandeur,  that  language  is  but  a  poor  vehicle 
to  convey  the  impressions  we  feel. 

View  of  the  Falls  at  Sunrise. 

This  view  is  thought,  by  thousands,  to  hasre  no 
rival  in  grandeur,  sublimity,  and  ^  interest.  Every 
point  of  time,  however,  in  getting  a  view  is  dif- 


GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  FALLS. 


26 


ipon 


roar 


'e  no 
Jvery 
dif- 


Vi 


ferent,  and  has  its  different  effect  upon  the  be- 
holder. 

View  of  the  Falls  at  Sunset 

When  the  sun  has  rolled  onward  in  his  chariot 
of  fire^  and  thrown  his  last  rays  upon  Niagara,  bid- 
ding adieu  for  the  night  to  the  grandeur  of  the 
scene  that  so  much  in  power  resembles  himself,  the* 
yiew  is  perfectly  indescribable. 

Boar  of  the  Falls. 

This  depends  much  upon  the  wind,  and  the  state 
of  the  atmosphere.  Sometimes  every  door  and 
window,  the  least  ajar,  for  a  mile  around,  will  trem- 
ble, and  the  roar  may  be  heard  from  fifteen  to  twen- 
ty-five miles.  At  other  times  our  citizens  wpuld 
scarcely  know  that  there  were  Falls  in  the  neigh,- 
borhood.  In  a  few  instances  the  roar  has  been 
heard  at  Toronto,  a  distance  of  forty-four  miles^ 

First  ImpTessioii  of  Strangers. 

-  At  first  sight,  strangers  are  sometimes  disap- 
pointed :  either  their  expectations  have  been  raised 
too  high,*or  the  sublimity,  grandeur,  and  magnifi- 
cence of  the  scene  far  surpass  every  thing  they 
could  possibly  have  anticipated. 

The  second  view  is  frequently  more  impressive 
than  the  first.  The  longer  the  visitor  tarries,  the 
more  he  enjoys  and  appreciates ;  the  impression  is 


-v  ... 


'■'•  1 


NN 


26 


■I 


GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  FALLS. 


indelibly  eniMi&niped  npon  bis  momoiy,  and  .for  ywn 
infixed  there,  as  with  tiie  imprint  of  a  sunbeam. 

The  FallS;  it  is  tnte^  when  seen  from  aboTfl,  do 
not  appear  more  than  fifty  or  sixty  feet- jiigbj'jbut 
let  the  visitor  go  below,  if  he  would  get  a  Qorfept 
impression  of  the  stupendous  work. 

"^  lUse  of  the  Biyer. 

Those  causes  whiob  swell  other  rivers  kav#  ilo 
effect  upon  this.  It  never  rises  unless  the  *wind  1^ 
been  blowing  down  Lake  Erie  from  a  westerly 
(iirebtion.  S.  Ware,  Esq.,  wbo  kept  the  feit}ribr 
seventeen  years,  says^  "  One  foot  on  the  top  of  the 
Falls  will,  by  actual  measurement,  raise  it  seii^- 
teen  and  a  half  feet  bdow.''  This  is  attributable  to 
the  river  being  pent  up  in  a  very  narrow  pass^^t'the 
j^uspension  Bridge,  and  not  being  able  to  find 'Its 
Vay  out  as  fast  as  it  accumulates  above. 

Fall  of  the  Siver. 

From  Lake  Erie  to  Lake  Ontario  (36  miles)j  3fl9 
feet  j  from  Lake  Erie  to  the  head  of  Goat  Islluotd 
(22  miles),  25  feet^  from  the  head  of  Goat  IsliiKid 
to  the  Main  Fall  (half  a  mile),  50  feet  y,  perp^^i* 
ttular  height  of  the  American  Fall,  164  feet)  on 
I  the  Canada  side,  158  feet;  from  the  Falls  to  the 
^'Whirlpool  (2 J  miles),  64  feet;  from  the  Whirl- 
pool to  Lake  Ontario  (11  miles),  25  feet.  Total 
in  36  miles,  between  the  two  lakes,  339  feet^     . 


*      •"Ilia?'- 


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i^ 


QUIDS  TO  NIAQABA  FALLS. 


27 


tiik,m 


'"''  Depth  ef  tlit  Ihtr  below  Ihe  Falli. 
This  has  never  been  ascertained.  Engineers  and 
others  have  at  di£ferent  times  attempted  to  sound  it, 
but,  owing  to  the  strong  and  irregular  undercur- 
rents^  no  definite  report  oould  be  made.  It  is  thought 
to  be  from  150  to  250  feet  deep. 


The  Falls  Oaanot  be  Deiorlbed. 

There  is  too  much  sublimity,  majesty,  and  over< 
whelming  grandeur  for  finite  minds  to  comprehend 
or  explain.  No  language  is  adequate  to  give  to 
the  stranger  a  correct  idea  of  these  stupendous 
works  of  the  Almighty.  And  they  have  always 
appeared  to  the  author  like  the  hand  of  the  Deity 
stretched  out  for  his  creatures  to  look  at.  <'  Lo,  these 
are  parts  of  his  ways '"  '^  But  the  thunder  of  his 
power  who  can  understand  V* 


Winter  Scene. 

It  is  thought  by  many,  who  have  visited  the  Falls 
at  this  season,  that  it  far  surpasses  that  of  summer. 
The*  icicles,  in  the  shape  of  inverted  cones,  hanging 
from  the  high  banks,  the  dazzling  splendor  of  an 
effulgent  sun  darting  his  fiery  beams  upon  them^ 
the  frozen  spray,  clothing  the  trees  in  its  silvery 
robe ;  the  roar  of  the  ice,  as  it  rushes  onward  to 
try  the  fearful  leap;  the  ceaseless  thunder  of  the 
cataract;  the  bow  of  promise  smiling  serenely  upon 


■1  ^1 


-.'F 


28 


GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  FAILS. 


n 


the  angry  flood ;  the  enchained  river  within  its  ic^ 
embrace,  struggling  like  some  monster  of  the  deep 
to  be^  free, — all  combine  to  render  the  scene  awfully 
grand  and  terrific.  No  language  is  adequate  to  give 
a  correct  impression ;  it  must  be  seen  before  it  can 
be  appreciated. 

The  First  Man  who  aaw  the  Falla. 

The  first  white  man  who  saw  the  Falls,  as  far  as 
we  have  any  authentic  record,  was  Father  Henne- 
pin, Jesuit  missionary,  sent  out  from  the  French 
among  the  Indians,  as  early  as  the  year  1678, 185 
years  since.  His  descriptions  were  visionary  and 
exceedingly  exaggerated.  He  thought  the  Falls  six 
or  seven  hundred  feet  high,  and  that  four  persons 
could  walk  abreast  under  the  sheet  of  water,  withcufc 
any  other  inconvenience  than  a  slight  sprinkling 
from  the  spray.  But  we  would  not  attribute  this 
wild  and  fanciful  description  to  a  want  of  candor, 
or  an  intention  to  deceive.  The  fact  probably  was, 
he  had  no  means  of  measuring  its  height,  and  un- 
doubtedly got  his  account  from  the  Indians,  which 
very  likely  would  be  incorrect.   ...        .  ,  ..,. 

Indian  Tradition. 

The  Indians,  it  is  said  in  Judge  De  Yeaux's  works, 
have  a  tradition  that  two  human  beings,  yearly,  will 
be  sacrificed  to  the  Great  Spirit  of  these  Waters. 


t 


J 


">« 


h 


:  t  » 


US 

)r. 


GUIDE  TO  NIAQABA  FALLS.  /      M 

^.  rt    ■   ' 

Whether  any  reliance  can  be  placed  upon  the  tra- 
dition of  the  Indians  or  not,  it  is  nevertheless  true 
that  almost  every  year  has  proved  fatal  to  some  one 
The  following  instances  can  be  mentioned. 

,  '> . 
Oasnaltiei. 

Dr.  Hungerford,  of  West  Troy,  was  killed  by  a 
rook  falling  upon  him,  between  Biddle  Stairs  and 
the  Cave  of  the  Winds.     May  27,  1839. 

John  York  is  supposed  to  have  gone  over  the 
Falls,  as  pieces  of  his  boat  and  part  of  the  load- 
ing were  picked  up  below,  28th  Nov.  1841.  Wil- 
liam Kennedy  was  in  the  boat  with  him,  and  found 
dead  on  Grass  Island,  just  above  the  Rapids. 

J.  H.  Thompson,  of  Philadelphia,  was  washed  ofif 
of  a  rock  below  the  Falls,  under  the  great  sheet  of 
water,  by  leaving  the  guide  and  venturing  too  far 
upon  places  of  danger.     August  16, 1844. 

Miss  Martha  K.  Hugg,  from  Lancaster,  near  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  while  picking  a  flower,  fell  over  the  bank, 
just  below  Barnett's  Museum  (Canada  side),  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  feet.  August  23,  1844.  She 
lived  about  three  hours.      ?'n/.;    ^i  t^^o    .^^^  a 

Charles  Smart,  from  Philadelphia,  fell  about  forty 
feet  from  a  rock  in  the  Cave  of  the  Winds.  Aug. 
31,  1846.     Killed  instantly.         v  -    ^-  --- 

John  Murphy,  aged  fourteen  years,  son  of  a 
widow  lady  of  our  village,  attempting  to  cross  the 

3* 


80 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


I  t. 


river  in  a  canoe,  aboat  a  mile  above  the  Falls,  wafl 
drawn  into  the  current  and  went  over.  His  body 
was  never  found.     June  13,  1847. 

A  son  of  Mr.  White,  aged  five  years,  and  his  sister, 
about  one  year  and  a  half  older,  were  playing  in  a 
canoe;  it  floated  out  into  the  stream.  The  ago- 
nized mother  beheld  this  heart-rending  scene ;  she 
rushed  into  the  river  nearly  up  to  her  neck, — res- 
cued the  girl;  the  boy  went  over.  He  was  last  seen 
sitting  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe,  holding  on  to 
each  side  with  his  hands.  July  9, 1848.  His  body 
wa0  never  found. 

A  gentleman  from  Buffalo,  supposed  to  be  on  an 
excursion  shooting  ducks;  his  boat  was  drawn  into 
the  Kapids  above  the  grist-mill — seen  by  several 
of  our  citizens  to  pass  under  the  bridge — heard  to 
exclaim,  ^' Can  I  be  saved?"  His  boat,  with  the 
velocity  of  lightning,  passed  on,  dashed  against  a 
rock  nearly  opposite  the  chair  factory;  he  was 
thrown  out;  went  over  feet  foremost,  near  the 
American  shore.  August  25,  1848.  His  body  has 
never  been  found. 

A  Mrs.  Miller  cut  her  shawl  in  pieces,  tied  them 
together,  and  hung  them  over  the  bridge  leading 
to  Goat  Island,  intending,  doubtless,  to  induce  the 
belief  that  she  had  let  herself  down  into  the  angry 
flood  and  had  gone  over  the  Falls.  Very  few  of  our 
citizens  believed  it,  as  there  was  too  much  pains 


* 


\ 


GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA   FALLS. 


81 


I  ) 


taken,  for  the  purpose  of  committing  suicide.  It  wtfl 
all  a  farce,  as  she  was  heard  from  at  Syracuse  and 
other  places,  a  few  days  after.  Some  love-a0air  oc- 
casioned this  wild  freak.  Her  father,  a  very  respect- 
able lawyer,  died  soon  afterwards,  it  was  thought 
of  a  broken  heart.  -       *  >  ) 

A  gentleman  from  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in  the  winter  of 
1852,  while  passing  over  the  bridge  to  the  Tower, 
fell  into  the  river,  was  instantly  carried  to  the  verge 
of  the  precipice,  and  lodged  between  two  rooks. 
Mr.  Isaac  Davy  rescued  him,  by  throwing  some 
lines  in  the  direction;  he  had  just  sufficient  strength 
lefl  to  tie  them  around  his  body,  and  he  drew  him 
to  the  bridge,  whence  he  was  taken  to  the  Falls 
Hotel.  He  remained  speechless  for  several  hours, 
but  finally  recovered.  I 


' 


»^yu 


^  ,,  <r  Avery  on  the  Log. 

On  the  morning  of  July  19,  1853,  a  great 
excitement  was  created  by  the  discovery  of  a  man 
on  a  log  in  the  Rapids,  midway  between  the  main 
shore  and  Bath  Island,  and  about  thirty  rods  below 
the  bridge  which  leads  to  the  toll-gate  on  the  island. 
The  rock  against  which  the  log  had  lodged  can  be 
seen  from  the  bridge,  or  from  the  bank.  The  cir- 
cumstances, as  near  as  are  known,  of  the  way  he  got 
there,  are  these.  This  man,  Avery,  and  another 
man,  being  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Brown,  boating 


■ii- 


( 


82 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  TALLS. 


sand  above  the  Falls  about  two  miles,  got  into  a 
boat  at  ten  o'clock  at  night  to  take  a  pleasure-sail 
The  next  morning  Mr.  Avery  was  discovered  on  the 
log  above  mentioned,  which  being  reported  called 
thousands  of  people  to  the  spot  to  see  the  unfortu- 
nate man  and  to  do  what  they  could  to  rescue  him 
In  the  first  place  a  small  boat  was  let  down ;  but  it 
filled  with  water,  and  sunk  before  it  reached  him 
By  this  time  a  life-boat  from  Buffalo  had  reached 
the  spot,  and  was  lowered  into  the  stream,  which 
reached  the  log  he  was  on,  passed  by  above  it,  cap- 
sized, and  sunk,  which  was  the  last  of  that.  Next, 
a  small  boat  was  let  down,  which  reached  the  spot 
all  right,  but  the  rope  got  entangled  under  the 
log,  and  could  not  be  got  loose;  so  that  boat  was 
useless.  Another  plan  was  tried:  a  raft  was  let 
down  to  him  all  right,  and  he  got  on  it,  and  the  rafb 
was  moved  toward  Bath  Island  as  far  as  it  could  be, 
but  the  ropes  soon  got  entangled  in  the  rooks,  and 
the  rafl  stuck  fast.  Then  another  boat  was  let 
down  to  him,  to  take  him  from  the  raft;  but  as  the 
boat  reached  the  raft,  the  water  dashed  the  boat 
against  the  bow  of  the  rafb,  which  gave  it  a  sudden 
jog,  and  Avery,  not  using  the  means  that  were  pre- 
pared for  his  safety,  viz.,  ropes  for  him  to  hold  on 
to,  or  tie  himself  .vith,  stood  erect  on  the^stern  of 
the  raft ;  and  as  the  boat  struck,  he  fell  off  back- 
ward, and  the  rapid  water  carried  him   over  th« 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


83 


\ 


Falls,  at  about  six  o'clock  p.  m.,  at  wliich  time  the 
crowd  (being  about  three  thousand  in  number)  left 
the  spot  with  slow  and  solemn  steps  for  their 
homes.    It  was  an  awful  scene. 

A  Yidt  to  Goat  Isluid  by  Moonlight. 

Thousands,  in  the  summer  season,  when  the 
weather  is  fair,  promenade  through  the  island  at 
night : — it  is  a  delightful  treat.  The  carriage-road 
is  fine;  the  dark  forest,  in  all  its  native  grandeur,  is 
around  them;  not  a  breath  moves  the  surrounding 
foliage;  the  moon,  pouring  a  flood  of  mellow  light 
through  the  openings  of  the  trees,  the  silence  of 
death  is  only  'interrupted  by  Niagara's  ceaseless 
roar,  filling  the  mind  with  emotions  of  awe,  gran- 
deur, and  sublimity  which  it  is  impossible  to  describe. 
It  must  be  witnessed  before  it  can  be  appreciated. 


The  Loiuur  Bow 

can  only  be  seen  about  once  a  month,  or  when 
the  moon  is  within  two  or  three  days  previous  or 
after  its  full.  The  reason  is,  there  is  not  light 
enough  to  form  the  bow.  The  best  points  from 
which  to  view  this  grand  spectacle  are  at  the  foot  of 
Goat  Island,  on  Luna  Island,  and  Horse  Shoe  Tower. 
If  the  sky  is  clear,  the  wind  right,  and  the  atmosphere 
favorable,  an  entire  arch  can  be  seen.  The  author  has 
frequently  seen  a  whole  arch;  with  three  colors  very 


34 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


distinct;  and  we  are  inclined  to  believe,  as  far  as  we 
can  learn  from  travellers,  that  this  is  the  only  place 
on  the  globe  where  a  rainbow  at  night,  in  the  form 
of  an  arch,  can  be  seen  at  all.  It  is  indescribably/ 
grand,  worthy  the  attention  of  the  tourist,  and  will 
amply  repay  him  for  a  trip  to  the  island  to  behold. 
"  Thou  hast  told  us  right,"  said  a  party  of  Friends, 
from  Philadelphia,  to  the  author :  "  this  sight  alone 
is  sufficient  to  pay  us  for  a  journey  to  the  Falls." 
The  mind  takes  a  wild  and  sublime  range,  but  its 
emotions  cannot  be  expressed.  ,  h    u 


Local  Distanoes  abont  tlie  Falls— American  Side. 

From  Cataract  House  to  Ferry 90  rods 

**     the  International  to  Ferry 80     " 

'*      "    American  to  Ferry 150     « 

From  the  hotels  to  the 

Suspension  Bridge 2    miles 

Whirlpool 2i    " 

Devil's  Hole,  or  Bloody  Run.. 3^    « 

Indian  Village 9      " 

Lewiston.... 7      '' 

Fort  Niagara 14      '* 

Komber  of  steps  at  the  Ferry 290 


Indian  Village 
is  nine  miles  from  the  Falls,  on  the  American  side. 
There  is  nothing  here  that  has  the  shape  of  a  village. 
A  few  scattering  huts,  most  of  them  log  houses,  are 
all  that  is  to  be  seen.    A  ride  to  the  meeting-house 


GUIDE  TO   NIAQARA  FALLS. 


35 


I 


r 


^Vi 


on  the  Sabbath  is  frequently  made ;  there  is  preach- 
ing in  English  by  a  missionary,  which  is  interpreted 
into  the  Indian  language  by  the  chief,  or  one  of 
the  tribe.  They  are  the  Tuscaroras,  formerly  from 
North  Carolina,  once  a  powerful,  warlike  tribe,  but 
now  diminished  to  a  mere  handful.  Their  women 
are  at  the  Falls  nearly  every  day  during  the  visiting 
season,  and  are  very  ingenious  in  making  bead-work, 
which  they  offer  for  sale.  As  to  charge  for  a  car- 
riage to  the  village,  there  is  no  definite  price;  it  is 
generally  from  three  to  six  dollars.  s 

Hiagora 
is  a  corruption  of  the  Indian  word  Onyakarra,  sap- 
posed  to  be  in  the  Iroquois  language,  as  the  Iroquois 
were  the  first  who  dwelt  here,  as  far  as  we  know. 
The  meaning  of  the  term  is  "mighty,  wonderful, 
thundering'*  water.  It  lies  in  latitude  43  degrees 
6  minutes  north,  and  longitude  2  degrees  5  minutes 
west  from  London. 


u 
e 
e 


^  i  Eealth«l)f  the  Vidnity  of  the  FallB. 

No  place  in  the  United  States  can  boast  of  a 
greater  degree  of  uninterrupted  health  than  the 
Falls.  The  town  contains  about  three  thousand  in- 
habitants. ,  Not  an  epidemic,  not  a  case  of  cholera, 
has  ever  originated  here.  This  is  attributable,  doubt- 
less, in  some  degree,  to  the  rapid  current  of  the 
river  and  the  pure  and  exhilarating  state  of  the 


86  GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  FALLS. 

atmosphere.     Whatever  may  be  the  cause,  such  u 
the  fact;  and  it  is  acknowledged  by  every  one. 

Hotelfli 

The  Cataract  House  and  International  are  con- 
sidered among  the  best  first-class  houses  in  the 
United  States.  The  American  and  Niagara  are 
also  good  second-class  hotels. 

The  Hearest  Konte  to  Oanada  (Table  Book,  Burning  Spring,  and 
Londy'g  Lane  Battle-Qroimd) 

is  by  the  Ferry.  The  view  of  the  Falls  and  river 
from  the  ferry-boat  is  one  of  the  very  best;  and 
the  visitor  should  not  fail  to  witness  it.  The  ferry- 
boats are  new,  commodious,  and  perfectly  safe.  Not 
an  accident  has  occurred  at  the  Ferry  for  forty-five 
years.  As  you  land  on  the  Canada  side  you  can 
procure  a  hack  to  take  you  to  Table  Kock,  &c. 
The  expenses  by  this  route  will  be  as  follows  :— 

Ferriage,  including  oars  down  the  bank 20  ots. 

Hack  to  Table  Rock,  from  12^  to  50  ots,— say... 25 

Or  hack  to  Table  Book,  Burning  Spring,  and  Battle* 

Ground, — say  .'. $2  00 

If  you  go  under  the  sheet  of  water,  50  ots.  to  $1  00, 

—say $1  00 

Charge  at  Burning  Spring 25 

Charge  at   Battle- Ground  for  going  up  on  the 

Pagoda t...       26 

Ferriage  returning 20 

Cars  up  the  bank ft 

For  table  of  distances,  see  page  42. 

'V 

'■''.  ^  '  •     -  ■       .  -  .  '■* 

:V'  ■■  ■  '  ■■  ■''    ■     ,     .   "  ,  .  .-       '.    .»■       ^  ■«  \     ' 


-«J( 


GUIDE   TO   NIAGARA   FALLS. 


87 


i>  Landing  on  the  Oanada  Side. 

There  is  a  good  oarriage-road  up  the  hank,  and^  if  the 
visitor  feels  disposed,  he  can  walk  at  his  leisure,  aud 
thus  have  more  time  to  contemplate  and  appreciate 
this  wonderful  scene.  If  he  prefers  riding,  he  can' 
get  a  good  carriage,  with  careful  drivers,  to  take  him 
to  Tahle  Rock,  generally  for  twelve  and  a  half  or 
twenty-five  cents.  It  would  he  advisable  to  make  a 
bargain  before  you  start,  as  the  drivers  will  some- 
times tell  you  they  will  carry  you  for  a  shilling, 
— ^meaning  Canada  currency.  One  shilling  of  that 
money  is  twenty-two  cents  on  this  side.  Price  of 
carriages  by  the  hour,  for  the  party,  on  that  side,  is 
usually  one  dollar. 


Clifton  Eonae. 
This  is  a  large,  first-class  hotel  on  the  Canada 
side,  at  the  top  of  the  hill  as  you  ascend  the  bank 
from  the  Ferry.    Eighty  rods  below,  on  the  edge  of 
the  bank,  is  Victoria  Point. 

The  Mnsenm 

is  near  Table  Rook.  Charge  for  admittance  is 
twenty-five  cents.  About  twenty  rods  below  the 
Museum  is  the  point  where  Miss  Martha  K.  Rugg 
fbll  over  the  bank,  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  per- 
pendicular. (See  Casualties.)  The  next  grand  and 
all-absorbing  point  of  interest  is  Table  Rock. 


•         -  -  1  I  '  '      ■■(,_  "        V. 

38  GUIDE  TO   NIAQABA  FALLS- ja^^^ii^^i^ 

The  route  to  Oanada  (Table  Bock,  Burftinif  Bpriagi  and  LuiAt'i 
!«  Lane  Battle-Chroiud),  by  tiie  Bupeiiliini  Brid|p»r 

I   Many  prefer  to  engage  a  isarriage  on  thia  side  and 
go  to  Canada  via  Suspenisidn  Bridge.    The  lime 
required  for  this  trip  is  usually  half  a  day,  or  from 
three  to  five  hours. 
'   The  charges  may  he  put  down  as  follow:- — 

.Carriage-hire,  $1  50  per  hoar,  or/ifVy  the  job, 
|*^V  ■from  3  to  $4  00,— say.t..... ...;..«;.;..;.«.:....;.....  |8'  6Ci 

,    Toll  at  bridge  for  carriage  going  Androtuming.^,.  ;    ; 50 
{^   Toll  at  bridge  for  each  person  (driver  free)  ..4......'      M 

r  Charges  at  Table  Rook,  nothing, — onless  you  gp^ 

under  the  sheet  of  water,  whioh  will  post....n,..    I  00  ' 

f  Charges  at  Burning  Spring........;... .;...        2l^  f 

Charges  at  Lundy's  Lane  Battle-Qroand 25  ' 

'        •     ■-* 

If  you  purchase  any  goods,  it  will  he  well  to  Ib- 
inemher  that  you  have  to  pay  a  duty  of  thirty-three 
per  cent.,  unless  the  Custom-House  officer  neglects 
his  duty. 

Suspension  Bridgt 

%  two  miles  helow  the  Falls,  is  eight  hundred  feet 
long,  and  extends  two  hundred  and  thirty  feet 
ahove  one  of  the  maddest  streams  on  the  glohe,,  It 
is  owned  by  a  stock-company,  and  cost  about  five 
hundred  thousand  dollars;  It  was  built  under  the 
superintendence  of  J.  A.  Boebling.  The  oars  of  the 
Great  Western  Bailroad  jpass  over  the  bndj^e  to 
connect  with  the  New  York  Central.  U« 

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QUIDS  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS.  39 

The  following  are  the  dimeDBions : — 

Iiengtb  of  span  Arom  centre  to  centre  of  towers  822  (t, 

Height  of  tower  abore  roek  on  the  Amer.  side...  88  " 

«      "     "         "        «         "      Canada  side.  78  " 

«      "     "         "      floor  of  railway 60  " 

"      "  track      "      water 268  " 

Knmber  of  wire  cables 4 

Diameter  of  each  cable '.,.  10^  in. 

Knmber  of  No.  0  wires  in  each  cable 3659 

Ultimate  aggregate  strength  of  cables 12,400  tons. 

Weight  of  superstracture 800     ** 

**        **             "           and  maximum  loads...,  1260     " 
Maximum  weight  the  cable  and  stays  will  sup- 
port   7309     " 

Note. — The  wires  were  first  got  aoross^by  means  of  a  kite. 


Table  Sock 

is  on  the  Can&da  side,  near  the  great  Horse  Shoe 
Fall,  and  the  terniinus  of  the  carriage-road  in  this 
direction.  It  was  formerly  about  fifteen  rods  long, 
and  three  wide,  and  projected  over  the  precipice 
from  fifty  to  sixty  feet.  Thousands  of  the.  most 
timid  have  stood  upon  this  giddy  eminence  with 
perfect  safety,  and  gazed  upon  the  resplendent 
grandeur  of  this  enchanting,  bewildering  scene. 
While  contemplating  it,  the  mind  is  lost,  and  sinks 
back  upon  itself  amid  the  immensity  of  God's  works. 
Two  large  portions  of  Table  Bock  have  fallen  within 
\a  few  years,  but  have  detracted  but  little  froii  this 
grand  view. 


40 


GUIDE  TO  NiAOARH  VALLS. 


The  charge  for  going  under  the  sheet  of  water  is 
one  dollar :  when  opposition  is  strong  between  the 
two  places,  the  charge  is  often  less. 

Fall  of  Table  Sook. 

On  the  26th  of  June,  1850,  our  citizens  were 
startled  with  the  report  that  Table  Kock  had  fallen. 
Many  of  us  instantly  repaired  to  the  place,  to  wit- 
ness foi'  ourselves  an  event  we  had  long  expected. 
What  a  chasm  !  What  a  tremendous  crash !  The 
rocks  heaved,  the  earth  trembled.  A  mass  of  rook, 
nearly  two  hundred  feet  long,  sixty  wide,  and  one 
hundred  thick,  fell  into  the  river,  and  almost  every 
particle  disappeared  from  sight.  The  noise  produced 
by  this  falling  rock  was  something  like  the  rumbling 
of  an  earthquake.  It  was  heard  four  or  five  miles 
on  each  side  of  the  river.  Fortunately,  no  lives 
were  lost,  though  some  forty  or  fifty  persons  were 
standing  upon  the  rock  but  a  few  moments  before. 
In  1818,  a  portion  of  Table  Kock  fell.  In  1828,  a 
large  mass  fell  froM  the  centre  of  the  Horse  Shoe 
Falls.  Another  mass  fell,  connect'  ^.  with  Table 
Rock,  and  extending  under  the  sheet  of  water 
toward  the  point  of  the  Horse  Shoe,  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  fifty  wide,  and.  one 
hundred  deep,  carrying  with  it  a  canal-boat  that  had 
lain  on  the  verge  of  the  Horse  Shoe  for  months^     } 


.. 


\ 


QUID!  TO  NIAGARA   FALLS. 


1      I 


-^ 


' 


(i  Manitoa  Book. 

The  large  rock  at  the  edge  of  the  water  below 
Table  Rock  is  called  Manitou  Rock^  and  is  tlie  one 
on  which  the  Indians  used  to  sacrifice  a  dog  to  the 
G-reat  Spirit. 

Burning  Spring. 

'  This  spring  is  situated  two  miles  above  the  Falls, 
on  the  Canada  side,  near  the  water's  edge.  It  is 
the  carbonated  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas  that 
burns.  Touched  with  a  match  it  gives  out  a  brilliant 
flame,  rising  two  or  three  feet  high.  Many  are 
very  much  interested,  and  to  those  who  have  never 
seen  any  thing  of  the  kind  it  is  an  object  of  a  good 
deal  of  intervst.     Charges,  twenty-five  cents,  cents. 


Ohippewa. 

The  village  of  Chippewa  is  on  the  British  side, 
I      three  miles  above  the  Falls. 


J 


Lnndy'fl  Lane  Battle-Field. 

Lundy's  Lane  is  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  the 
Falls,  on  .e  Canada  side.  The  battle,  in  its  hot- 
test fury,  was  fought  principally  in  the  night,  with 
the  bayonet ;  Gen.  Peter  B.  Porter  commanding  the 
volunteers, — Generals  Brown  and  Scott  wounded, 
Biall  and  Drummond  (British  generals)  wounded 
and  taken  prisoners.  This,  it  is  said,  waa  the  severest 
battle  ever  fought  on  this  continent.     The  British 


42  QUIDE   TO   NIAGARA  FALLS. 

had   in   killed   and  wounded  eight  hundred  and 
seventy-seven,  the  Americans  eight  hundred  and    . 
sixty.    It  was  a  drawn  game, — ^both  parties  claiming 
the  victory.     July  25,  1814. 

The  above  is  taken  from  General  Brown's  offi- 
cial report  to  the  Secretary  of  War.  This  is  some- 
times blended  with  the  Chippewa  battle,  but  it  is  a 
mistake:  Chippewa  battle  was  fought  near  the 
Burning  Spring,  July  5,  1814.  The  charge  for 
ascending  the  Pagoda  at  the  Battle  -  Ground  is 
twenty-five  cents. 

Looal  Difltaiioet— Oanada  Side. 

From  the  water's  edge  to  the  Clifton  House 106  rods 

From  the  Clifton  House  to  Table  Rock 220    '< 

From  Suspension  Bridge  to  Table  Rook 2  milei 

From  Table  Rock  to  Lundy's  Lane  Battle-Ground,    1^    ** 

To  the  Burning  Spring 2^    " 

To  Chippewa 8      « 

To  the  Whirlpool 4i    « 

To  Brook's  Monument 1^    ** 

Buinhig  of  the  Steamer  "Oaioline." 

If  the  appearance  of  a  ship  on  fire  at  sea,  at 
night,  in  a  thunder-storm,  is  grand  and  terrific,  no 
less  so  was  that  of  the  steamboat  Caroline  in  flames, 
as  she  was  loosed  from  her  moorings  at  the  old 
landing  near  Fort  Schlosser,  and  towed  out  into  the 
middle  of  the  river,  by  the  command  of  Clolonel 
McNab,  a  British  officer.    Here  she  was  abandoned 


". 


•  ■       > 


V. 


GUIDE  TO   NIAQARA  FALLS. 


48 


»( 


and  left  to  her  fate.  The  night  was  inteniely 
dark.  She  moved  steadily  on;  a  broad  sheet  of 
lurid  flame  shot  high  into  the  heavens,  illumin- 
ing the  western  clouds  with  its  red  glare ;  rockets 
were  ascending  from  the  Canada  shore,  expressive 
of  the  success  of  the  expedition.  A  universal  shout 
rings  out  upon  the  night  air  from  the  party  who 
have  just  left  the  doomed  boat.  She  enters  the 
Kapids  at  the  head  of  Goat  Island,  nearest  the 
Canada  shore,  careens  over,  rights,  and  passes  on, 
like  a  flaming  meteor,  to  her  final  doom.  Striking 
upon  Gull  Island,  she  swings  around,  awfully  shat- 
tered by  the  confliVit,  the  flames  rolling  up  for  a 
moment,  as  if  not  alarmed  by  Niagara's  roar,  but  de- 
termined not  to  be  encircled  within  its  cold  embrace 
or  to  be  beaten  by  its  mighty  and  terrific  power. 
The  war  of  the  elements  continues  for  an  instant; 
the  Caroline  has  disappeared,  leaving  ''not  a  wrack 
behind/'  and  Niagara  is  victor,  proclaiming  to  the 
world  that  its  power  is  not  lessened  by  the  strife 
of  men,  or  any  casual  floating  substance  upon 
its  bosom.  Very  few,  however,  beheld  this  grand 
spectacle,  as  it  was  during  the  night,  and  most 
of  the  inhabitants  had  retired  from  the  frontiers. 
It  is  not  our  purpose,  at  this  time,  to  enter  into 
the  minutiae  of  this  aflair:  suffice  it  to  say,  the 
boat  was  charged  by  the  British  with  aiding  the 
refugees  by  carrying  provisions  and  arms  to  Navy 


w 


GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  FALLS. 


Island;  which  doubtless  was  true.  This  speoification 
was  brought  before  the  court  By  the  British  consul 
at  the  trial  of  McLeod  for  the  murder  of  a  gentleman 
from  Buffalo  who  was  shot  on  board  the  Caroline. 
It  will  be  recollected  McLeod  was  acquitted. 

The  fragments  of  the  boat  that  lodged  on  GuU 
Island  remained  there  until  the  next  spring.  What 
was  left  of  her  after  passing  the  Bapids  went  over 
the  point  of  the  Horse  Shoe  Fall.  No  person,  we 
believe,  was  on  board.    December  29,  1839. 

The  Line  between  the  two  OovemmentSi 

as  agreed  upon  by  the  commissioners  (General  P|i 
B.  Porter  was  one,  on  behalf  of  the  United  States 
Government),  is  in  the  centre  of  the  river,  or  deepest 
channel,  passing  through  the  point  of  the  Horse 
Shoe,  through  the  centre  of  Lake  Erie,  Lake 
Superior,  and  so  on  to  the  northern  boundaries  of 
the  United  States. 

Fort  SoUosser 

is  two  and  a  half  miles  above  the  Falls,  on  the 
American  side.  It  is  memorable  for  its  antiquity, 
and  its  associations  of  the  British  and  French, 
each  holding  alternately  the  possession  up  to  the 
year  1775. 

Scarcely  a  vestige  of  the  ruins  marks  the  place 
where  it  once  stood.  It  is  not  visited  bf  tra* 
velers. 


\ 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


46 


;he 


\ 


Indian  Offering  to  the  Falls.. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1851,  the  writer  aooom- 
pani«d  a  party  of  Indians  from  the  northwest  wilds 
of  Minnesota  (on  their  way  to  Washington)  to  the 
foot  of  the  American  Falls.  The  wind  was  favor- 
able, and  ^we  approached  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
falling  sheet.  They  gazed  in  rapt  wonder  on  the 
mighty  flood,  as  it  rolled  its  angry  waters  and  fell 
upon  the  resounding  rocks  below.  For  a  long  time, 
every  muscle  of  their  countenances  indicated  a 
religious  awe,  and  their  thoughts  appeared  to  be 
communing  with  some  superior  power.  At  a  signal 
from  the  chief,  they  dfew  a  small  red  pipe  from 
their  girdle,  and,  with  a  great  deal  of  solemn  gestur- 
ing, each  threw  his  pipe  under  the  Falls.  This,  I 
was  told  by  the  interpreter,  was  a  religious  offering 
to  the  Great  Spirit,  that  he  would  be  propitious  .to 
them  on  their  journey  and  return  them  in  safety 
to  their  homes.  We  then  conducted  them  to  the 
Tower,  on  the  west  side  of  Goat  Island.  They 
were  induced,  by  some  ladies  and  gentlemen  pre- 
sent, to  give  their  views  of  what  they  saw.  They 
did  so,  in  the  following  words,  as  far  as  their  lan- 
guage could  be  interpreted. 

"Brothers,"  said  the  chief,  "we  live  in  the  woods, 
far  towards  the  setting  sun.  Our  fathers  once 
owned  these  lands  and  this  river ;  they  have  told 
us  of  these  Falls,  but  now  we  see  them.     Brothers, 


46 


OUIDE   TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


you  axe  great^  but  you  cannot  stop  this  water;  you 
cannot  put  your  hand  on  its  mouth  and  make  it 
still.  Yonder/'  pointing  to  the  clouds,  *'  is  the  G-reat 
Spirit;  he  made  these,  and  this  is  his  work;  and 
yonder/'  pointing  to  the  rainbow  (which  at  the 
time  shone  most  brilliantly),  "we  see  his  face, — we 
see  him  smile.  We  shall  tell  our  children  what  we 
have  seen.  Brothers,  our  hearts  are  glad  that  we 
turned  aside  from  our  path  to  see  this  great  wonder. 
Brothers,  we  thank  the  whites  for  our  good  treat- 
ment.'' The  emotions  of  Bed  Jacket,  the  cele- 
brated Indian  chief,  while  visiting  the  Falls  some 
years  since,  were  of  a  very  different  character.  He 
admired  the  grandeur  of  nature's  work,  but  not 
with  that  religious  awe  and  devotional  feeling  with 
which  those  wild  untutored  sons  of  the  forest  men- 
tigned  above  were  inspired.  Envy  and  jealousy 
rankled  in  his  bosom  against  the  white  man,  the 
destroyer  of  his  race.  He  saw,  at  a  glance,  the 
superiority  of  the  white  man  over  the  red  man  of 
the  woods,  and  he  hated  him  because  he  had  not 
the  power  to  become  his  equal. 

Point  View 

is  a  few  rods  to  the  right  of  the  Ferry-House,  on 
the  American  side.  This  was  the  last  residence  of 
Francis  Abbot,  the  Hermit  of  Niagara.  On  this 
spot  a  pagoda  was  raised,  which  placed  the  spec- 


\ 


:k 


jL. 


'1 
•  1 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


47 


tator  at  an  elevation  of  more  than  one  hundred  feet 
above  the  cataract,  and  two  hundred  and  seventy 
feet  above  the  river;  but  it  was  taken  down  in 
1853. 

OafUn'fl  Gave 

is  on  the  American  side,  about  sixty  rods  below 
the  Ferry,  and  this  is  the  only  way  of  getting  to  it. 
The  bank  is  steep  and  precipitous,  and  difficult  of 
access.  It  is  about  fifteen  feet  wide,  and  ten  high. 
Except  as  containing  a  few  specimens  of  petrified 
moss,  h  ^  not  an  object  of  interest,  and  is  seldom 
visited    ^  6  rangers. 


■;#' 

i. 


Bendei's  Gave 


is  on  the  Canada  side,  about  half-way  between 
the  Clifton  House  and  the  Suspension  Bridge.  It 
is  a  cavity  in  the  bank,  about  six  feet  high  and 
twenty  long,  formed  by  a  decomposition  of  the 
limestone.    It  is  not  a  place  of  resort. 


••*v.t-W§ 


on 


The  Whirlpool, 

on  the  American  side,  is  three  miles  below  the  Falls, 
and  is  visited  on  account  of  the  wild  and  magnifi- 
cent grandeur  of  its  scenery.  The  river  here  turns 
abruptly  to  the  right,  forming  an  elbow,  and  as  the 
waters  rush  against  the  opposite  banks  a  whirlpool 
is  formed^  in  which  logs  and  other  bodies  have  been 


48 


GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  FALLS 


known  to  float  for  many  days  before  finding  their 
way  out. 

If  you  wish  to  take  the  trouble  to  descend  the 
bank,  you  can  get  one  of  the  best  views  of  the 
Bapids  from  below  that  is  to  be  had ;  add  you  will 
wonder  how  the  steamer  "  Maid  of  the  Mist'*  ever 
passed  down  here  with  its  crew  and  lived;  yet  such 
is  the  fact.     For  particulars,  see  page  50. 

While  standing  upon  the  rocks  near  the  water's 
edge,  cast  your  eyes  up  the  river  towards  the  Canada 
shore;  you  will  at  once  perceive  that  the  river  is  A 
very  considerably  higher  in  the  centre  than  it  is  on 
each  side.  The  height  in  the  centre  above  that  on 
the  banks  is  estimated  by  the  engineers  to  be  eleven 
and  a  half  feet.  If  two  men  were  to  stand,  the  one 
with  his  feet  in  the  water  on  the  American  side, 
and  the  other  on  the  Canada  shore,  and  extend  their 
hands  as  high  as  they  could  reach,  with  a  handker- 
chief or  any  thing  of  the  kind  in  it,  it  could  not 
be  seen  by  either. 

The  charge  for  visiting  the  Whirlpool  grounds  is 
twenty-five  cents:  the  proceeds  go  to  the  support 
of  the  De  Veaux  Orphans'  College,  which  is  located 
on  the  grounds  near  the  main  road. 


D0vil'8  Hole 

is  three  and  a  half  miles  below  the  Falls,  on  the 
American  side,  formed  by  a  chasm  in  the  eastern 


GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  FALLS. 


49 


the 
itern 


bank  of  the  river  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred 
feet  deep.  An  angle  of  this  gulf  is  within  a  few 
feet  of  the  road,  offering  the  traveler,  without  alight- 
ing, an  opportunity  of  looking  into  the  yawning 
abyss  beneath.  During  the  French  War,  a  detach- 
ment of  the  British  army,  while  retreating  from 
Fort  Schlosser,  were  decoyed  into  an  ambush  of 
French  and  Indians.  The  yell  of  the  savage,  oa  it 
rung  out  upon  the  midnight  air,  was  the,  first  indi- 
cation of  their  attack.  Baggage-wagons,  oncers, 
men,  women,  and  children,  were  encircled  and 
pushed  over  the  bank,  and  plunged  into  the  awful 
<ohasm  below.  By  the  most  authentic  account,  the 
number  of  those  who  pelrished  was  two  hundred 
and  fifty.  Only  two  persons  escaped, — a  drummer 
who  was  caught  in  the  branch  of  a  tree  in  his 
descent,  and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Stedman  (the 
same  who  put  the  goats  upon  Goat  Island) :  while 
attempting  to  flee,  the  bridle-reins  were  seized  by 
the  savages;  he  instantly  cut  them  loose  and 
escaped.  The  Indians  afterwards  gave  him  all  the 
land  he  encircled  in  his  flight,  which  was  the 
point  between  the  Devil's  Hole  and  Fort  Schlosser, 
including  the  Falls.  The 'Visitor  can  descend  the 
stairs  to  the  water's  edge,  if  he  chooses ;  but,  like 
the  "  Indian  gun,  it  costs  more  than  it  comes  to." 
Weat  has  produced  this  wonderful  chasm,  is  left 
much  to  conjecture  to  determine.   Sir  Charles  LyeD 


n 


50 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


thinks  the  small  stream  that  pours  over  into  the 
gulf,  near  an  old  saw-mill,  would  have  been  '' per- 
fectly competent  to  have  cut  the  ravine,  and  we 
need  look  for  no  more  powerful  cause/'  The  battle 
above  mentioned  occurred  in  1765.  The  charge 
for  going  on  to  the  rock,  and  descending  the  stairs 
below,  is  t^wenty-five  cests.  Chasm  Tower,  or  Mount 
Eagle,  was  a  few  rods  below. 


"Maid  of  the  Mist"  going  throngli  the  Whirlpool.  - 

She  left  her  moorings,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
above  the  Suspension  Bridge,  June  15,  1861^  and 
swung  boldly  out  into  the  river,  to  try  one  of  the 
most  perilous  voyages  ever  made.  She  shot  forward 
like  an  arrow  of  light,  bowed  gracefully  to  the 
multitude  on  the 'bridge,  and  with  the  velocity  of 
lightning  passed  on  to  meet  her  doom.  Many  beheld 
this  hazardous,  daring  adventure,  expecting  every 
instant  she  would  be  dashed  to  pieces  and  disappear 
forever.  Amazement  thrilled  every  heart,  and  it 
appeared  as  if  no  power  short  of  Omnipotence  could 
save  her.  "  There !  there  I"  was  the  suppressed  ex- 
clamation that  escaped  the  lips  of  all.  '^  She  careens 
over  I  She  is  lost  I  She  is  lostV^  But,  guided  by 
an  eye  that  dimmed  not,  and  a  hand  that  never 
trembled,  she  was  piloted  through  those  maddened 
waters  by  the  intrepid  Robinson  in  perfect  safety. 


GUIDE  TO   NIAOABA  FALLS. 


51 


the 
per- 
we 
ittle 
arge 
tairs 
ount 


^ 


mile 
f  and 
f  tlie 
'ward 
•  the 
tyof 
Bheld 
ivery 
pear 
d  it 
ould 
d  ex- 


and  is  now  performing  les8  hazardous  voyages  on  the 
St.  Lawrence. 

She  is  the  only  craft,  as  far  as  we  know,  that 
ever  made  this  fearful  trip  and  lived.  Though  our 
intrepid  hero  had  performed  many  hazardous  ex- 
ploits in  saving  the  lives  of  persons  who  had  fallen 
into  the  river,  yet  this  last  act,  in  taking  the  Maid 
of  the  Mist  through  the  Whirlpool,  is  the  climax 
of  all  his  adventures.  The  boat  lost  her  smoke- 
stack, but  otherwise  received  no  injury,  being  very 
,    strongly  built. 


j^<.. 


"V:,'». 


52 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


GEOLOGY 


AND 


RECESSION  OF  THE  FALLS. 


Sir  Charles  Lyell  says,  "  The  first  feature  which 
strikes  you  in  this  region  is  the  escarpment,  or  line 
of  inland  cliffs,  one  of  which  runs  to  a  great  distance 
east  from  Queenston.  On  the  Canada  side  it  has  a 
height  of  more  than  three  hundred  feet.  The  first 
question  which  occurs  when  we  consider  the  nature 
of  the  country,  is,  how  cliffs  were  produced;  why  do 
we  so  suddenly  step  from  this  range  to  the  gypseous 
marls,  and  then  so  suddenly  to  the  subjacent  shale 
and  sandstone.  We  have  similar  lines  of  escarpment 
in  all  countries,  especially  where  the  rock  is  lime- 
stone ;  and  they  are  considered  to  be  ancient  sea- . 
cliffs,  which  have  become  more  gentle  in  their  slope 
as  the  country  has  emerged  from  the  ocean.  You 
may  perhaps  ask  if  the  Ontario  may  not  once  have 
stood  at  a  higher  level,  and  the  cliffs  been  produced 
by  its  action,  instead  of  that  of  the  ocean.  Some 
of  you  may  have  passed  along  the  ridge  road,  as  it  is 
called, — that  remarkable  bank  of  sand  which  exists 
parallel,  or  nearly  so,  to  the  present  borders  of  Lake 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


58 


bioh 
'  line 
»nce 
bas  a 
)  first 
ature 
lydo 
3eous 
shale 
ment 
lime- 
sea- 
slope 
You 
have 
uced 
iSome 
it  is 
exists 
Lake 


I 


Ontario,  at  a  considerable  height  above  it.  I  per>> 
fectly  agree  with  the  general  opinion  respecting  this, 
that  it  was  the  ancient  boundary  of  Lake  Ontario. 
In  some  parts  of  it  fresh- water  shells  have  been  found. 
You  cannot  explain  the  escarpment  by  the  aid  of  the 
action  of  the  lake,  for  it  extends  farther,  and  not  in 
the  same  direction.  When  the  land  emerged  gradu- 
ally from  the  sea,  as  it  is  now  doing,  the  sea  would 
naturally  create  those  sea-cliffs,  and  during  the  up- 
heaval they  would  of  course  become  inland.  In 
Europe,  proofs  that  limestone  rocks  have  been  washed 
away  are  abundant.  In  Greece,  in  the  Morea,  this 
is  especially  conspicuous.  We  have  there  three 
limestones  one  above  the  other,  at  various  distances 
from  the  sea.  Along  the  line  you  may  see  littoral 
caves  worn  out  by  the  action  of  the  wrves.  The 
action  of  the  salt  spray,  which  has  effected  a  sort 
of  chemll;al  decomposition,  is  easily  to  be  observed. 
So  completely  is  this  the  case  with  each  of  these 
lines  that  you  cannot  doubt  for  an  instant  that  here 
is  a  series  of  inland  cliffs;  and  this  phenomenon 
being  so  certain  in  the  Morea,  leads  us  by  analogy 
to  infer  that  these  escarpments  of  the  district  were 
produced  by  a  similar  cause. 

<'  It  is  not  disputed  that  there  is  some  change  going 
on  at  the  Falls,  even  now.  There  occurs,  as  we  know, 
.occasionally  a  falling  down  of  fragments  of  rock,  as 
may  be  seen  at  Goat  Island     The  shale  at  the  bot- 


\ 


54 


GUIDE  TO   NIAQAfiA  FALLS. 


torn  is  destroyed  in  consequence  of  the  action  of  the 
spray  and  frost;  the  limestone^  being  thus  under- 
mined, falls  down;  and  it  has  been  believed  that  in 
this  way  there  has  been  a  recession  of  about  fifty 
yards  in  about  forty  years ;  but  this  is  now  generally 
admitted  to  have  been  overstated.  There  is  at  least 
a  probable  recession  of  about  one  foot  pvery  year : 
though  part  of  the  fall  may  go  back  faster  than  this; 
yet,  if  you  regard  the  whole  river,  even  this  probably 
will  be  something  of  an  exaggeration.  Our  obser- 
vations upon  this  point  are  necessarily  imperfect; 
and  when  we  reflect  that  fifty  years  ago  the  country 
was  perfectly  wild,  and  inhabited  by  bears,  wolves^ 
and  here  and  there  a  hunter,  we  shall  think  it  sur- 
prising that  we  have  any  observations  at  all,  even 
for  such  a  period  back.  We  have  an  account  of  the 
^alls,  given  by  Father  Hennepin,  a  French  mission- 
ary, who  gives  an  exaggerated  description,  of  them, 
and  yet  one  which  is  tolerably  correct.  He  repre- 
sents a  cascade  as  falling  from  the  Canada  side  across 
the  other  two.  He  says  that  between  Lake  Erie  and 
Lake  Ontario  there  is  a  vast  and  wonderful  water- 
fall ;  after  speaking  of  this,  he  says  there  is  a  third 
cascade  at  the  left  of  the  other  two,  falling  from 
west  to  east,  the  others  falling  from  south  to  north. 
He  several  times  alludes  to  the  third  cascade,  which 
he  says  was  smaller  than  the  other  two.  Now, 
those  who  consider  that  because  Father  Hennepin 


I 


H 


!!lil 


/ 


GUIDE   TO   NIAGARA   FALLS. 


55 


leprn 


g]^ve  the  height  of  the  Falls  at  six  hundred  feet, 
cimall  value  is  to  be  attached  to  his  testimony  re- 
specting any  part  of  the  country,  do  him  injustice. 
I  think  it  perfectly  evident  that  there  must  have 
been  such  a  third  cascade,  falling  from  west  to 
east,  as  that  to  which  he  alludes.  ^ 

**  A  Danish  naturalist,  who  came  in  the  year  1750 
to  this  country  and  visited  the  Falls,  of  which  he  has 
also  given  us  a  description,  which  was  published  in 
the  Gentleman's  Magazine  in  1751,  also  gives  a  view 
of  the  Falls.  In  its  general  features  his  description 
agrees  well  with  that  of  Father  Hennepin.  He  went 
seventy-three  ;fears  after  him,  and  there  was  then  no 
third  cascade.  But  the  point  where  Father  Hennepin 
had  put  his  cascade  he  had  marked,  and  says  that 
*  that  is  the  place  where  the  water  was  forced  out  of 
its  direct  course  by  a  prodigious  rock,  which  turned 
the  water  and  obliged  it  to  fall  across  the  Falls.'  He 
goes  on  to  say,  that  only  a  few  years  before,  there 
had  been  a  downfall  of  that  rock ;  which  was  un- 
doubtedly part  of  the  Table  Rock ;  and  after  that  the 
cascade  ceased  to  flow.  Now,  it  does  not  appear 
whether  he  had  ever  seen  Hennepin's  account  or  not: 
he  only  mentions  the  fact  that  there  had  been  a 
third  cascade  ^  and  it  is  a  striking  confirmation  of 
the  accuracy  of  Father  Hennepin's  description.  "W  e 
find  these  two  observers,  at  an  interval  of  seventy 
years  apart,  remarking  on  the  very  kind  of  change 


I 


; 


56 


GUIDE  TO  NIAOABA  FALLh. 


'ill 


whioh  we  now  remark  as  having  taken  place  within 
the  last  fifty  years;  an  undermining  of  the  rock,  and 
a  falling  down  of  the  limestone,  and  a  consequent 
obliteration  of  the  fall.  Every  one  who  has  visited 
the  Falls,  on  inquiring  of  the  guides  about  the 
changes  that  have  taken  place,  may  have  been, 
told  that  the  American  Fall  has  become  more  ores* 
cent-shaped  than  it  was  thirty  years  ago,  when  it 
was  nearly  straight.  The  centre  has  given  way,  and 
now  there  is  an  indentation  of  nearly  thirty  feet. 
The  Horse  Shoe  Fall  also  has  been  considerably  al- 
tered. It  is  not  of  So  regular  a  crescent  shape  as 
formerly,  but  has  a  more  jagged  outline,  especially 
near  Goat  Island :  it  has  less  of  the  horse-shoe  shape, 
from  which  it  derives  its  name,  than  when  it  was 
given.  It  is  quite  certain  that  things  there  are  not 
stationary;  and  the  great  question  is  whether,  by 
this  action,  the  whole  Falls  have  been  reduced  in 
this  manner.  From  representations  made  by  other 
travelers,  I  was  desirous  of  ascertaining  whether 
iresh-water  remains  were  found  on  Goat  Island,  as 
had  been  said ;  for  it  would  be  striking  if  on  this 
island  there  should  be  a  stratum  of  twenty-five  feet 
of  sand  and  loam,  pebbles  and  fresh- water  shells. 
They  were  found  there,  and  I  made  a  collection  of 
several  species  of  shells  found  on  the  island  :  among 
them  were  the  planorbiSy  a  small  valvatay  and  seve- 
ral other   kinds.    They  were  of  kinds  generally 


^f: 


GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  FALLS. 


67 


found  living  in  the  rapicU  in  the  river  above,  or  in 
the  lake. 

**  In  digging  a  mill-raoe  there,  only  a  few  years 
since,  there  were  found  a  great  number  of  sheik,  and 
also  a  tooth  of  a  mastodon,  some  twelve  or  thirteen 
feet  below  the  surface.  It  was  the  common  Ohio 
mastodon,  and  must  have  been  buried  beneath  these 
twelve  or  thirteen  feet  of  fresh-water  deposits,  one 
layer  at  a  time,  each  containing  different  she)  Is.  In 
answer  to  my  question,  whether  similar  shells  were 
ever  found  lower  down,  the  guide  said  ho  would 
take  me  to  a  place,  half  a  mile  below,  where  the 
strata  had  been  laid  open.  We  ^ound  there  depo- 
sited in  the  rock  a  small  quantity  of  fresh-water  shells, 
showing  that  this  old  deposition  extended  down  to 
that  distance.  Here  we  ha/e  proo^  that  the  river 
once  stood  at  a  higher  level  aid  in  a  tranquil  state; 
and  there  is  every  appearance  oithe  rock  having 
been  like  a  solid  barrier  to  hold  the  waters  back  in 
a  lake-like  state,  so  that  they  might  throw  down 
those  fresh-water  deposits  at  that  height  You  will 
understand  this  better  if  you  consider  tba^  if  the 
Falls  go  on  receding,  no  matter  at  what  rate, — an 
inch,  a  foot,  a  yard,  a  year, — in  the  course  of  time 
the  whole  must  recede  considerably/  from  its  present 
condition.  What  proofs  should  we  have  of  this 
afterward  ?  You  will  easily  see  that  if  iY.d  river 
should  cut  its  way  back  to  a  certain  pointy  the  effect 


M 


58 


<}UIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


would  be  to  remove  the  rocky  barrier,  the  limestone 
of  the  rapids,  which  has  been  sufficient  to  pond  the 
river  back.  But  if  the  river  cuts  its  wav  back,  this 
barrier  could  no  longer  exist;  the  channel  would  be 
deepened,  and  the  deposits  existing  high  and  dry 
upon  the  land  would  become  proof  of  the  recession. 
This  kind  of  proof  we  have,  that  the  Falls  have  re- 
ceded three  miles  from  the  Whirlpool,  the  limestone 
having  been  higher  at  the  Whirlpool  than  the  river 
at  the  Falls.  It  may  be  well  to  say  that  the  beds 
all  dip  to  the  south,  at  the  rate  of  about  twenty-five 
feet  in  a  mile.  In  seven  miles  the  dip  causes  a  gene- 
ral rise  of  the  platform  to  the  north,  so  that  when 
at  the  top  of  the  clifif  you  are  at  a  great0r  height 
than  the  level  of  Lake  Erie )  and  if  the  Falls  were 
formerly  at  Queenston,  their  height  was  probably 
near  double  what  they  now  are. 

'^  Mr.  Hall  suggested  that  at  that  time  the  whole 
fall  was  not  at  one  place,  and  I  think  it  quite  likely 
that  such  was  the  case.  There  is  reason  to  believe 
that  one  fall  was  upon  the  quartzose  sand  below, 
and  the  other  on  the  Protean  bed.  The  upper  part 
would  of  course  recede  faster  than  the  lower^  because 
it  is  softer,  as  is  seen  to  be  the  case  at  Rochester ; 
but  the  limcrtone,  becoming  thicker  and  harder, 
would  recede  more  slowly.     There  may  have  been 

several  falls,  as  at  Eochester,  each  one  of  them  being 

« 


:\ . 


\\ 

w 


\ 


, 

\ 

;■';   .'.. 

■I, 

J       i' 

\  ,4 

* 

V       ' 

GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  FALLS. 


59 


I 


less  high  than  at  present,  and  yet  the  whole  being 
nearly  double  its  present  height. 
„  /<  I  told  you  that  the  river  fell  about  one  hundred 
feet  between  the  base  of  the  Falls  and  Lewiston :  so 
that  the  bed  slopes  at  that  rate.  This  slope  of  the 
river,  and  then  the  upward  slope  of  the  platform, 
are  the  reasons  why  the  Falls  are  now  of  less  height 
than  formerly :  so  when  we  carry  ourselves  back  in 
imagination  to  the  time  when  the  river  had  not  re- 
ceded so  far,  we  have  a  barrier  of  limestone  much 
higher.  The  valley  in  which  the  river  then  flowed 
must  have  been  much  narrower  than  its  present 
ravine.  The  distance  now  from*  the  Canada  to  the 
American  side  is  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile, 
wherea3  at  half  a  mile  below  it  is  only  half  that 
distance. 

<'  Farther  investigations,  by  tracing  the  fresh-water 
deposits  lower,  will  give  more  precise  information. 
You  might  suppose  that  if  we  find  the  remains 
of  a  mastodon  in  a  fresh-water '  deposit  so  lately 
laid  dry  as  that  near  the  village  of  Niagara,  and 
only  twelve  feet  below  the  surface,  the  mastodon 
has  lived  in  the  country  at  a  modem  period ;  you 
might  think  that  a  few  centuries  would  have  been 
sufficient  for  the  accumulation  of  twelve  feet  of 
shelly  sandstone  and  limestone,  and  that  it  may 
have  been  recently  that  this  mastodon  was  buried, 
when  the  barrier  was  at  the  Whirlpool,  before  this 


1 1 

I 


\'' 


It 


60 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


i  li 


II 


twelve  feet  of  fluviatile  strata  were  deposited.  Yet 
these  strata  are  older  than  the  Whirlpool. 

**  Among  the  objections  to  the  supposition  that  the 
ravine  was  cut  out  by  the  Niagara,  one  is,  that  at 
the  place  called  the  Devil's  Hole,  or  the  Bloody  Run, 
the  ravine  must  have  been  cut  by  some  more  power- 
ful cause  than  by  a  slight  stream. 

"  But  this  I  regard  as  no  objection  at  all,  for  on  ex- 
amining the  nature  of  the  soil,  &c.,  I  am  convinced 
that  even  the  small  stream  which  now  flows  would 
have  been  perfectly  competent  to  out  out  the  ravine, 
and  that  we  need  look  for  no  more  powerful  cause. 

'^  Suppose  the  Falls  once  to  have  been  near  Queens- 
ton,  they  would  recede  differently  at  different  times, — 
faster  when  the  soil  shale  was  a,t  the  base,  at  other 
times  slowly,  when  the  hard  sandstone  was  to  be  cut 
through.  First  of  all  comes  the  quartzose  sand- 
'Stone^or  a  certain  distance ;  then  the  Falls  recede 
slowly,  but  more  rapidlyVhen  it  came  to  the  soft 
shales.  Then  comes  the  sandstone  again  at  the 
base,  which  now  extends  to  the  Whirlpool,  and  here 
the  movement  was  slow.  It  probably  stood  for 
ages  at  the  Whirlpool.  Then  for  another  period  it 
receded  more  rapidly;  ind  it  is  probable  that  for 
the  last  mile  its  recession  has  beeL  comparatively 
slow,  because  the  Protean  group,  and  about  twenty 
feet  of  sandstone,  making  about  fifty  feet  of  hard 
rook  at  the  base,  were  to  be  cut  through.    It  is  cer- 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


61 


tain  that  the  moveiueD^*  now  is  at  a  faster  rate,  as 
the  shale  is  exposed/' 

The  above  reasoning  perfectly  coincides  with  the 
opinion  of  Dr.  Dwight,  and  others  who  have  devoted 
any  time  to  the  subject,  and  strangers,  as  far  as  the 
author  has  been  enabled  to  learn,  have  come  to  the 
same  conclusion. 

The  following  fragment,  written  in  the  Register 
of  the  Point  View  Garden,  at^j  Niagara  Falls,  on, 
Sunday,  August  1,  1847,  by  Dr.  Baxley,  of  Bal- 
timore, illustrates  the  profound  impressions  produced 
on  the  mind  and  heart  by  this  most  wonderful  work 
of  nature. 


A  Sa1)1)ath  at  Niagarat 

Here,  near  the  temple  of  Almighty  God, 
The  soul,  wrapp'd  in  humility,  hows  down 
In  awe  and  reverenoe.     'Tis  meet  that  man,         • 
The  creature,  heholding  the  bold  displays 
Of  power  stupendous,  wisdom  infinite. 
Should  look,  through  nature's  grandest  witness,  np 
To  nature's  God.     And  deeming  here  all  time 
A  Sabbath,  yet  on  this  day  appointed 
Holy  to  Him  who  rear'd  these  rocky  walls, 
Buttress'd  below  by  tide-wash'd  massive  piles, 
Entablatured  with  beetling  battlements 
And  corniced  with  a  waving  wilderness 
Of  verdure, — who  outspread  yon  azure  roof, 
Now  softly  mellow'd  with  ethereal  tint. 
Or  darken'd  by  the  thunder's  messenger, 
Gilded  anon  by  lightning's  gleams,  or  now 

6 


02 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


Ilji  II 


Radiant  with  starry  hosts,  whose  mirror'd  beama 

Carpet  the  billowy  floor  with  silvery  light, — 

Who  raised  yon  altar,  and  upon  its  brow 

Of  emerald,  in  characters  of  light, 

Inscribed,  e'en  with  his  own  right  hand,  "  To  God  I" 

Where  ministering  birds,  with  notes  attuned 

To  an  eternal  anthem,  hymn  his  praise. 

And  bear  on  dewy  wings  a  pearly  cloud 

Of  incense  up  toward  the  Almighty's  throne. 

Fit  worshippers  in  nature's  holiest  fane, — 

Who  guards  the  portal  of  this  sacred  place 

With  ever-heaving  sea  of  snowy  foam, 

Whose  tempest  voice  to  man  presumptuous  calls, 

"  Thus,  and  no  farther,  shalt  thou  go,"  and  points 

To  ceaseless  whirling  tides,  the  awful 

Maelstrom  of  Niagara,  dread  emblem  of 

Th'  eternal  doom  of  man,  vain  man,  who  seeks 

To  pass  the  limit  of  assigned  command, 

And  moral  law, — 

E'en  on  this  Sabbath  day. 
Here,  near  God's  own  great  temple,  would  we  bow 
I  In  humble  praise  and  prayer;  and,  while  the  lip 
Bests  silent,  would  the  soul  its  homage  give. 
And  favor  seek ;  petitioning  that  in 
The  devious  path  of  life  so  may  we  move. 
That  when  these  rocks  shall  melt  with  fervid  heat, 
When  the  rich  garniture  of  teeming  earth 
Shall  vanish,  leaving  no  trace  of  brightness 
Or  of  beauty  to  tell  that  it  once  was. 
This  restless  tide  no  longer  flow,  and  its 
Deep  cadence  cease,  when  the  blue  dome  that  spans 
The  earth  shall  pale  away,  and  radiant  spheres 
No  longer  shed  abroad  their  hallow'd  light,        V:     \ 
Then  may  the  hope  that  rests  upon  His  word  '. 

Who  ne'er  was  false  to  man,  who  hangs  his  bow^'    1 


GUIDE  TO  NIAGARA  FALLS. 


es 


Upon  the  oloud,  and  spreads  it  night  and  day 
Upon  his  altar's  inoense,  token  to  man 

^     Alike  of  his  redeeming  power  and  will, — 
Then  may  the  hope  that  on  his  word  relies, 
Nurtured  by  love  and  rectitude,  grow  strong 
In  trust  and  prescience  of  a  home  "  not  made 
With  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens  !'' 

AoausT  1,  1847. 


[ 


>i  To  Niagara. 

WBITTEIT  AT  THE  flRST  SIOHT  OF  ITS  FALLS,  1838,  BY  J.  S.  BUCEINOUAM. 

Hail !  Sovereign  of  the  World  of  Floods !  Whose  majesty  and 

•  might 

First  dazzles, — then  enraptures, — then  o'erawes  the  aching 

sight : 
The  pomp  of  kings  and  emperors,  in  every  dime  and  zone, 
Grows  dim  beneath  the  splendor  of   thy  glorious  watery 

throne. 


t, 


No  fleets  can  stop  thy  progress, — no  armies  bid  thee  stay, — 
But  onward — onward — onward — thy  march  still  holds   its 

way; 
The  rising  mist  that  veils  thee  as  thine  herald  goes  before, 
And  the  music  that  proclaims  thee  is  the  thundering  cata- 
ract's roar. 


.s?- 


ms 


Thy  diadem  is  an  emerald  green,  of  the  clearest,  purest  hue, 
Set  round  with  waves  of  snow-white  foam   and  spray   of 

feathery  dew. 
While  tresses  of  the  brightest  pearls  float  o'er  thy  ample 

sheet. 
And  the  rainbow  lays  its  gorgeous  gems  in  tribute  at  thy 

feet. 


II 


64 


GUIDE   TO  NIAOABA  FALLS. 


Thy  reign  is  of  the  anoient  days, — thy  sceptre  from  on  high ; 
Thy  birth  was  when  the  morning  stars  together  sang  with 

joy; 

The  sun,  the  moon,  and  all  the  orbs  that  shine  upon  t)iee 

now 
Saw  the  first  wreath  of  glory  which  twined  thine  infant 

brow. 

And  from  that  hour  to  this,  in  which  I  gaze  upon  thy 

(Stream, 
From  age  to  age, — in  winter's  frost,  or  summer's  sultry 

beam,— - 
By  day,  by  night, — ^without  a  pause, — ^thy  waves,  with  loud 

acclaim,  ' 

In  ceaseless  sounds  have  still  proclaimed  the  Great  Etemftl 

Name. 

For  whether  on  thy  forest  banks  the  Indian  of  the  wood. 
Or,  sinc6  his  days,  the  red  man's  foe,  on  his  fatherland  has 

stood, —  ' 

Whoe'er  has  seen  thine  incense  rise,  or  heard  thy  torrent's 

roar. 
Must  have  bent  before  the  God  of  all,  to  worship  and  adore. 


Accept  then,  0  Supremely  Great ! — 0  Infinite ! — 0  God ! 
From  this  primeval  altar — the  green  and  virgin  sod — 
The  humble  homage  that  my  soul  in  gratitude  would  pay 
To  thee !  whose  shield  has  guarded  me  thro'  all  my  wander- 
ing way. 

For,  if  the  ocean  be  as  naught  in  the  hollow  of  thy  hand, 
And  the  stars  of  the  bright  firmament,  in  thy  balance,  grains 

of  sand. 
If  Niagara's  flood  seem  great,  to  us  who  lowly  bow, 
0  Great  Creator  of  the  whole !  how  passing  great  art  thou! 


r- 


GUIDE  TO   NIAGARA  TALIS. 


65 


Yet,  tho'  thy  power  is  greater  here  than  finite  mind  maj  sean, 
Still  greater  is  thy  mercy  shown  to  weak  dependent  man. 
For  him  thou  cloth'st  the  fertile  fields  with  herhs  and  fruit 

and  seed, 
For  him  the  woods,  the  lakes,  supply  his  daily,  hourly  need. 

Around,  on  high,-«or  far  or  near, — the  universal  whole 
Proclaim  thy  glory,  as  the  orhs  in  their  fiz'd  courses  roll. 
And  from  creation's  grateful  voice  thy  hymn  ascends  ahore, 
While  Heaven  re-echoes  back  the  chorus,  God  is  love. 


( 


I  I 


Feny  to  Oanada  from  the  Foot  of  the  Amerioan  Fall,— 
The  Cheapest  Bonte. 

Thb  high  bank  is  descended  by  a  stairway  of  two  hundred 
and  ninety-one  steps,  or  by  a  parallel  inclined  plane  three 
hundred  and  sixty  feet  long,  the  oars  being  moved  by  water- 
power.     Ferriage,  twenty  cents. 

The  boats  carry  with  entire  safety  twenty  to  thirty  persons ; 
and  the  crossing  affords  a  magnificent  amphitheatre  view  of 
both  Falls,  river,  &o.  The  Ferry  is  reached  by  a  short  walk 
from  the  railroad-station  down  the  broad  street  leaving  the 
International  Hotel  on  the  left.  From  the  Canada  landing. 
Table  Rock,  half  a  mile  distant,  may  be  reached  by  a  walk  or 
by  carriage,  as  may  be  preferred.  Visitors  should  be  at  Table 
Bock  at  four  to  six  p.m.,  when  the  sun  is  in  rear  of  the  spec- 
tator,  thus  forming  the  rainbow.  For  the  same  reason,  the 
view  on  the  Amerioan  side  is  best  in  the  morning. 

The  great  stairway  is  free  to  visitors,  as  are  all  the  Ferry 
grounds,  buildings,  &o. 


[ 


Gave  of  the  Winds. 

This  point  of  interest  is  unequalled  by  any  locality  about 
the  Falls.  It  is  approached  from  Goat  Island  on  the  American 
side.  To  those  wishing  to  go  behind  the  sheet  of  water,  a 
passage  through  the  Gave  of  the  Winds  far  excels  one  behind 
the  Fall  at  Table  Bock.  This  fact  is  universally  confirmed 
by  all  who  have  experienced  both.  Strangers  should  visit 
this  cave  before  hiring  a  carriage  to  convey  them  to  the 
Canada  side.  By  so  doing,  they  will  save  expense,  and  be 
better  pleased  with  their  tour  than  they  can  be  elsewhere. 

W.  C.  WARBBir. 


66 


spsoia.il.   notioe. 


[ 


A  IiABaS  OOIaliBOTIOIT  OV 

VIEWS  FOB  THE  STEBEOSOOFE, 

INCLUDING  THE 

Falls  Taken  In  Summer  and  Winter,  Saspeniloi 
Bridge,  Rope  Ascension,  War  Views,  &e. 

These  Views  are  manufectured  by  the  undersigned,  opposite  th« 
CATARACT  HOVSB,  NIAGARA  FAI«I<S. 

PIiATT  D.  BABBITT. 

INDIAN-WORK,  ROCK-WORK,  FANS,  &c. 

Parties  desiring  souvenirs  of  their  visit  will  save  fifty  per  cent,  by 
purchasing  on  the  American  side  of  the  river.  Goods  purchased  ftt 
Table  KocIe,  Canada  side,  are  sut^Ject  to  duty.  P.  D.  B. 

>  « 

JAMES'  Mcpherson, 

PHOTOGRAPHER. 

Main  Street,  between  tbe  Oatftract  an<  International  Hotels 

(East  Side), 
Manufacturer  of 

SXER,EOSCOI»IC    VIEl?rS, 

on  Glass  and  Paper,  of  Niagara  Falls  and  other  Amehioah  Souiut- 
A  large  and  beautiful  stock  of 

NEW  VIEWS, 

superior  to  any  offered  in  this  place  heretofore,  at  Wholesale  <a  Retail. 

CARTES  BE  VISITE, 

in  ViaiTETiB,  Bust,  and  Full  Luioth,  taken  in  superb  style  for 

Albums. 

.♦>... 

AMBBOTTPES  AND  PHOTOGRAPHIG  TIEW8 

of  the  Falls  taken  to  or<}er  from  Point  Yibw,  near  the  Ferry  House, 
with  the  parties  ordering  included  in  the  picture. 


\  t 


JOHN  THORNLEY, 

No.  311  CHESTNUT  STREET^  PHILADELPHIA, 

MANUFACTURER  AND  DEALER  IN 

India  Rubber  and  Gutta  Percha  Goods 

ADAPTED  TO  MECHANICAL  PURPOSES,  MACHINE 
BELTING,  STEAM  PACKING,  HOSE,  fto. 


■VTJXiO.A.liTIZEID 


IS  PREPARED  UNDER 

GOODYEAR'S  PATENT, 

So  that,  after  the  article  Is  once  manilfuctured,  it  will  not  bo  affected  hj 


And  when  combined  with  *' Cotton  Duck,"  or  fibres  of  Cotton  mixed 

with  it, 
It  offers  a  perfect  substitute  for  Leather  for 

BELTING  AND  HOSE, 

,  IW'ltboiit  the  lilablllty  to  Craclc,  and  can  never 
be  affected  by  Heat  or  Cold  I 

When  prepared  with  or  without  Cloth  or  Fibre,  it  offers  an 

ELASTIC  SUBSTANCE  FOR  PACKING 

AMD 

INNUMEBABIiE  MECHANICAL  FUBFOSES. 


INDIA  RUBBER  R.R.  CAR  AND  CARRIAGE  SPRINGS, 

HANUFAOTURID  BT 

THE  NEW  ENGLAND  OAE  3PEIN0  OOMPANT, 

Sole  Manufacturers,  under  Qoodyear's  Patent,  of  India  Rubber  Springi 
Car  Railroad  Cars,  Carriages,  and  Vehicles  of  all  kinds. 

JOHN    THORNLEY, 

Afftnt  at  Philadelphia,  JPn^ 


Jij^ 


M 


FOB  THE  NEW  ENeUND  CAB  SrBINO  COMPANY. 


•■:-  (!■:»-•: 


IIA, 


ds 


9£ 


t  ( 


ted 


lixed 


r«r 


yes, 

pringi 


hxMtl^hu  f  nquim, 


DOUBLE  SHEET,  FORTY  COLUMNS. 

^  Pnblished  every  Horning  (except  Sunday),  by 
WILLIAM  W.  HABDINO, 

No.  121  South  Third  Street,  Philadelphia. 


.•♦■ 


The  Great  Newspaper  of  Philadelphia! 

The  trying  times  of  the  nation's  history  in  which  we  liT«« 
render  a 

LIVE   NEWSPAPER 

an  indispensable  necessity  to  every  man  who  would  keep  him* 
self  informed  of  the  important  events  which  are  daily  trans- 
piring. 

AS  AN  ADVEBTISINa  MEDIUM  IT  HAS  HO  EQUAL 

The  increase  in  the  circulation  of  THE  INQUIRER  during 
the  year  is  the  best  evidence  of  the  extent  to  which  the  public 
rely  upon  it  for  the  news  of  the  day.  Its  circulation  his 
averaged,  for  SEVERAL  MONTHS  past, 

OTer  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty  Thousand  Copies 

a  week,  or  Sixty  Thousand  a  day ;  and  it  has,  during  the 
year,  in  times  of  excitement,  reached  over  Seventy  Thousand 
a  day,  testing  the  capacity  of  OUR  FAST  PRESSES  to  the 
utmost  to  supply  the  demand.  By  the  use  of  the  newly-in- 
vented system  of  Stereotyping,  the  type  is  used  with  the  same 
effect  as  if  it  was  new  every  day. 

The  Inquirer  is  Independent  in  Politics. 

Prices  at  which  THE  PHILADELPHIA  INQUIRER  is  serred 
by  oaiefal  Garriers  everywhere,  or  sent  by  mail,  Twelve  Gents  a 
Week,  and  sold  by  all  News  Agents. 

DAILT  PAPER,  FIFTT  GENTS  for  one  Month,  payable  in  adTsaoe. 
^  "       ONE  DOLLAR  for  two  Months,  "      "       " 

.  69 


I  I 


& 


,     OF  THE  FALLS 

TAKUf  TO  ORDER,  BT  i 

JAMES  Mcpherson, 

From  Point  View,  near  the  head  of  the  Ferry  Stairs,  giving 
in  one  Picture  the  « 

UORSE-SUOE  AND  AMERICAN  FALLS, 

with  the  parties  in  the  foreground. 

Visitors  to  the  Falls,  wishing  to  carry  with  them  a  Souvenir 
of  their  visit  or  a  gift  for  a  friend,  can  find  nothing  more 
•atisfaotory  and  interesting  than  a  picture  which  will  contain 
a  perfect  delineation  of  one  of  the  grandest  scenes  in  Nature, 
and  of  themselves  as  they  appeared  while  viewing  it. 

AMBROTYPES  IN  CASES. 

Also,  a  large  and  varied  stock  of 

on  both  Glass  and  Paper,  containing  a  great  many 

NEW   VIEWS, 

far  superior  to  any  ever  made  or  sold  in  this  place  before. 

Parties  wishing  to  procure  Views  should  not  fail  to  call  and 
examine  my  Stock  before  purchasing  elsewhere,  as  they  will 
find  it  greatly  to  their  advantage. 

Vignette,  Bust,  and  Fnll-Length  CASTES  D£  VI8ITE,  4 
of  the  proper  size  for  Albums,  taken  in  superb  style. 

Orders  received  at  the  Operating  Rooms,  near  the  Ferry 
House,  or  at  the 

PHOTOGRAPHIC  PORTRAIT  ROOMS, 

Main  Street,  between  the  Cataract  and  International  Hotels 

(East  Side), 

.^     NIAGARA  FALLS,  N.Y. 

70  , 


r 


\'. 


FOR  NEW  YORK  AND  BOSTON 

TAKB 

THE  ERIE  RAILWAY. 


itain      h 
ture,      \ 


wiU 


r- 


Express  Passenger  Trains  leave  BuSklo  as  follows : 

5.00  A.H.,  NEW  TOBK  DAY  EXPRESS, 

Via  Attica  and  HomelUville. 
Through  to  New  York  without  change  of  cars.    Now  and  splendid 
Parlor  Cars,  free  from  dust,  and  luxurious  Bmoking-Curs  attached  to 
this  train.    Arrives  in  New  York  at  8.26  P.M. 

6.46  F.M.  KEW  YORK  NIGHT  EXPRESS, 

Via  Attica  and  HomelUville. 
Through  to  Now  York  without  change  of  cars,  arriving  at  0.56  A.M. 
Connecting  with  Trains  and  Boats  for  Boston  and  New  England  cities. 
Luxurious  Sleeping-Cars  run  through  to  New  York  on  thii 
Train. 

'       10.66  P.M.  NEW  YORK  FAST  EXPRESS, 

Via  Attica  and  Homellsville. 
Through  to  New  York  without  change  of  cars,  arriving  at  1.54  P.M. 
Connecting  with  TriUns  and  Boats  for  Botiton  and  New  England  cities. 
Splendid  Sleeping-Cars  attached  to  this  train. 

49*Pa88engers  for  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  and  Washington  changs 
cars  at  Elmlra. 

For  Tickets,  and  all  information,  apply  at  the 

GENERAL  UNION  TICKET  OFFICE, 

CATARACT  BLOCK. 

H.  MicItA-Tir,  Ticket  JLeent. 


CHA8.  MINOT, 

Gen'l  Sup't. 


WM*  B*  BARRf 

Gen'l  Pass.  Agent. 

71 


,  ) : 


wt 


Ilii 


If! 


II, 


M 


NIAGARA  FALLS,  N.Y.         v 

ON   FALLS   STREET, 


\\ 


-;        OPPOSITE  THE  INTERNATIONAL, 

Leading  to  the  Ferry  and  the  American  Falls. 


The  undersigned,  grateful  for  the  patronage  received  for  many  years, 
beg  leave  to  announce  to  the 

TRAVELLING   PUBLIC 

they  have  enlarged  their  stock,  and  '*an  accommodate  strangers  with 

---■■■  -:■:,    ,,        ,,.  ;  ^.■,„     some  of  the         ,.w...., 

BEST  CARRIAGES  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES: 

having  in  former  years  acted  as 

GUIDES  TO  THE  FALLS, 

are  personally  and  familiarly  acquainted  with  this  WORLD'S  WONDER, 
uid  will  point  out  all  the  places  of  interest  on 

BOTH  SIDES  OF  THE  BIYEB, 

together  with  the  ^.ime  necessary  to  visit  them,  expenses,  Ac. 

OHAHOKe  BCA«0NA81C»  T 

DAVY  &  BROTHERS, 

/  Proprietors. 


'W 


'»  .4:^ 


ears, 


with 


DER, 


t'  • 


orSt 


